Commissioned by the Fabrikjazz Collective on the occasion of Irène Schweizer's 50th birthday, Theorie continues Barry Guy's successful syncreticism vis a vis the predetermined and the spontaneous. And while one senses the clear lines of demarcation between the two, the manner in which each is fueled or catalyzed addresses their mutual interdependence - a pivotal concern in Guy's aesthetic.

Two aspects of Theoria are particularly striking. The recurring syncopated orchestral riff is an unusual signpost for Guy, and therein lies its attraction. Of greater interest and import are the quick solo/small group change-ups with orchestral support during the last section of the piece. One hears not only a succession of individual voices, but a shifting textural tapestry as well. Put another way, these divergent concise statements blend to form a striking multi-timbred voice which is, in essence, the London Jazz Composers Orchestra.

Milo Fine, CADENCE, USA, April 1993

Barry Guy, Irène Schweizer, Jazzfestival Willisau 1994. Foto: Johannes Anders