VIJAY IYER & WADADA LEO SMITH “Defiant Life”

ARTIST

Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith

ALBUM TITLE

“Defiant Life”

LABEL

ECM

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Much has changed since Iyer and Smith’s 2016 ECM debut A Cosmic Rhythm with Each Stroke, and that evolution is evident in this new release. Once again recorded at the Stelio Molo Auditorium in Lugano—now a signature venue in Manfred Eicher’s sonic vision—the album reveals a shift in artistic focus.

Where the first record was shaped by their long collaboration and Iyer’s reverence for Smith as mentor, Defiant Life is driven more by musical inquiry than affirmation. Iyer no longer appears to be “keeping up” with Smith—he has grown into his own presence, allowing Smith’s sound to anchor the music through his characteristic rarefaction: sparse textures, silence, expressive outbursts, and luminous bursts.

Smith’s vision—of universal music created in real time through abstraction and intuition—comes fully into focus. Iyer embraces it fully, stating that “we no longer have time for the term improvisation; it no longer does us or our music any favors.” His electronic contributions add depth, shimmer, and thunder, perfectly in sync with Smith’s sensibility.

The dialogue reaches its apex in two profoundly moving pieces: Floating River Requiem (For Patrice Lumumba), in which Iyer’s piano surges with force and clarity, and Kite (For Refaat Alareer), a duet of unbearable beauty and emotional weight.

Defiant Life is a complete and compelling work. Its political overtones—acknowledged by Smith in the album’s subtitle, “challenging lives”—are deeply sincere. In times like these, that sincerity is more than welcome.

Sandro Cerini

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