The Real Cool Killers (the name is taken from a book by African-American crime novelist Chester Himes) had originally intended to record some compositions by bassist Rob Kohler and tenor saxophonist John Doheny and had in fact actually rehearsed them. But when Kohler, Doheny and drummer Geoff Clapp convened at the recital hall at Tulane University on the night of November 8th, 2009, the original plan was scrapped and the band agreed to 'play free' for this initial session. Nothing was discussed; saxophonist Doheny set up the six-four groove of "Parades and Saints" and the trio played uninterrupted for 20 minutes.

After a short break, they did it again, in fact the only pre-conceived music on the CD is the final track, Thelonius Monk's "Rhythm-a-ning." Everything else was in the grand tradition of New Orleans collective improvisation. And while on first listening the music may appear to be "free jazz," further perusal reveals a more holistic approach, one containing hidden recompositions of funk tunes (the Meters "Cissy Strut." James Brown's "I Feel Good"), standards ("Stella By Starlight"), the harmonic and sonic approaches of 20th century composers Krzysztof Penderecki and Darius Milhaud, and allusions to mid 20th century tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin. The titles of the individual 'tracks' were actually dreamed up by Doheny at a later listening, and the tracks themselves were created in the mixing process by producer-engineer Kohler. The music itself stands on its own, a whole and complete thing, born of the special circumstances of a special night in New Orleans in 2009.

Herbert "Buckshot" Lefonk, New Orleans, Sept. 2010.