Download - Downbeat

JAZZby James HaleSaxAggressionJerome Sabbagh:spirit strikesFrom grainy introspectionto acerbic ecstasy, altosaxophonist David Binneycovers a lot of tonalground on Third Occasion(Mythology 0006; 61:50)AAAA and frequentlyextends the harmonicrange with a small brasssection. Pivoting on thepanoramic “Squares AndPalaces”—an exceptionally well-constructed15-minute composition—the recordingfeatures a first-rate rhythm section: CraigTaborn, Scott Colley and Brian Blade.Sounding particularly dark and resonant,Colley plays a muscular role, freeing Bladeto dance lithely. Third Occasion has a cinematicquality that accentuates the episodicnature of Binney’s nine originals.Ordering info: davidbinney.comThere’s more than a hint of the exclamatorysingle-mindedness of John Coltrane’sGiant Steps to Jimmy Greene’s MissionStatement (RazDaz/Sunnyside 4608; 64:26)AAA 1 /2. The title makes it plain that Greeneaims to lay his saxophone bona fides on thetable for those who haven’t heard the 34-year-old on his way up. He strings togetherlong, pirouetting runs, accented by plangentsqueals straight out of Trane’s book.Bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer EricHarland may be better known now asCharles Lloyd’s rhythm mates, but they’vebeen with Greene since 2002—along withpianist Xavier Davis—and the longevity isevident in their sympathetic support.Guitarist Lage Lund provides a second compellinglead voice.Ordering info: sunnysiderecords.comOctogenarian Red Holloway has a timelesssound that contains the echoes ofdecades of music made in Chicago. ADuSable High School contemporary ofJohnny Griffin and Von Freeman,Holloway glides through nine pieces onGo Red Go! (Delmark 585; 65:21) AAA andhandles the diverse program—whichstretches from Gershwin to Jobim—withan even, graceful groove. The classicorgan quartet is filled out by either HenryJohnson or Freeman’s brother George onguitar, Greg Rockingham, drums, andtuneful keyboardist Chris Foreman.Ordering info: delmark.comPursuing a loose superhero themewrapped in a string of absurdly punningsong titles, Adventures (Boxholder 055;69:41) AAA introduces veteran adventurerCharlie Kohlhase’s highly resourcefulseptet. Powered by two drummers and featuringa blustery front line of two reeds, JeffGalindo’s trombone and Eric Hofbauer’sguitar, The Explorer’s Club is a band thatcan sound like a much larger unit but alsoshift into raw-boned blowing reminiscent ofNew York’s loft era. “The Star Of TheShow,” Kohlhase’s raucous tribute toJames Brown, is a standout.Ordering info: charliekohlhase.comTony Malaby’s excoriating tone is alwaysbracing, and contrasted with Ben Monder’sspectral guitar it gains an extra measure ofgrit on Paloma Recio (New World 80688;57:58) AAA 1 /2. Monder matches him forintensity on “Alechinsky,” and Norwegianbassist Eivind Opsvik adds another dissonantlayer. With Nasheet Waits playingmore freely than he does in many settings,this is a recording that covers a broad scopeof moods, with the deeply felt lyricism of“Lucedes” and “Sonoita” balancingMalaby’s more aggressive pieces.Ordering info: newworldrecords.orgYou don’t find many post-bop era musiciansrecording programs of all standards;fewer still choose to do them in a pianolesstrio. French native Jerome Sabbagh relishesthe challenge with One Two Three (BeeJazz 028; 46:28) AAAA and his nerve paysoff. Backed by the exceptionally responsiverhythm team of bassist Ben Street andwhip-fast drummer Rodney Green, the 39-year-old Sabbagh takes on nine pieces—primarily from the ’50s—and ups the anteby doing them live off the floor, withoutedits or overdubs. Avoiding any of theusual stylistic clichés, Sabbagh lets thesecompositions speak for themselves. He’snot afraid to simply play the melody,although when the spirit strikes him he canspin out inspired improvisations. DBOrdering info: beejazz.comEMRA ISLEKMichael Musillami Trio + 3From SeedsPLAYSCAPE 020109AAAA 1 /2Guitarist Michael Musillami has a tone that’simpossible not to love. Tart, yet round, he uses iton rapidly picked lines that sound like early JohnMcLaughlin and in darting phrases that areaccented by his long-time rhythm partners,bassist Joe Fonda and drummer GeorgeSchuller. On From Seeds Musillami has expandedhis trio by adding saxophonist Marty Ehrlich,vibist Matt Moran and trumpeter Ralph Alessi.That makes for a potent sextet, and the guitarist’swriting provides a rich variety of settings.Inspired by Thelonious Monk, “SplayedFingers” zigzags between tempos and is highlightedby a gorgeous, cascading line that’sessayed first by Moran and then echoed byMusillami and Fonda. Ehrlich adds heat as thepace doubles and Alessi takes the piece out witha typically piquant solo. The following “Ga-Ga-Goosebumps” takes the listener in a completelydifferent direction, shifting between Schuller’smartial-sounding snare intro to a series of staccatomovements that drive home an insistentmelodic line. Again, Musillami wastes no timemaking great use of his new bandmates’strengths—in this case, Ehrlich’s biting, burnishedtone and Alessi’s terrific use of intervals.Not enough variety yet? Musillami turns a perfecttrifecta by cranking up a retro-soundingmetallic tone on the title composition—a corrosivesound that Ehrlich matches on alto. Afterhammering away with an intensity that recallsthe punk jazz/no wave era, Fonda and Schullersteer things into a near-rumba coda.A blues dedicated to a flagging wisteria plantand a sharply etched anthem for composers whocontinue to work in pencil slow the pace andshowcase Moran’s work-effective doubling ofAlessi’s lead on “Wisteria Hysteria Blues” andlovely sprays of notes on “Graphite.”In his liner notes, Musillami is candid abouthis concern over adding new voices to his 7-year-old trio. He needn’t have worried; it was agreat decision.—James HaleFrom Seeds: Splayed Fingers; Ga-Ga-Goosebumps; FromSeeds; Wisteria Hysteria Blues; Graphite; Bill Barron. (56:22)Personnel: Michael Musillami, guitar; Ralph Alessi, trumpet;Marty Ehrlich, alto sax; Matt Moran, vibraphone; Joe Fonda,bass; George Schuller, drums.»Ordering info: playscape-recordings.com52 DOWNBEAT August 2009