John Kelman has taken a long look at the new Live In Chicago release over at All About Jazz.
More than any version of King Crimson that has come before, Crimson 2013+ has fulfilled the idea of a fully cooperative band; even the personnel listing is in simple alphabetical order. Fripp may retain ultimate veto power, but the group's (seemingly effortless) combination of navigating mind-boggling material—that would leave many scratching their heads in wonder—with a reckless, unfettered approach to interpretation and improvisation, both individual and in tandem with others, makes this a Crimson collective like no other. With still more older material to be reimagined and new music hopefully to come, this is a group that perfectly balances both demands, with a strong future ahead.
