Historicity - Vijay Iyer Trio - (ACT) - In a year that has been filled with excellent recordings, few have received more press than pianist Vijay Iyer's first piano trio CD. Deservedly so - this is an impressive program, filled with sparkling interplay, visceral intensity, and songs that make one think about the creative musician's role in the arts and society. Much has been made of the material Iyer chose to record, from M.I.A.'s “Galang“ to Julius Hemphill's “Dogon A.D." to Stevie Wonder's “Big Brother“ and more. The implications of an Asian-American recording of Leonard Bernstein's “Somewhere“ - 2 Jewish-American songwriters (Bernstein and lyricist Stephen Sondheim) writing “There's a place for us/Somewhere a place for us“ about a Puerto Rican girl in love with a poor White man, lyrics that could easily written about the composers' families or the performers. Hemphill's “Dogon...“, released in the early 1970's, is built upon a simple yet haunting blues riff and was revelatory in its day, coming on the heels of the AACM and the Art Ensemble of Chicago's credo “Great Black Music: Ancient to the Future." What's more basic than the blues, yet this music pushed and poked the tradition and does here as well, with Stephan Crump's moaning arco bass work and Marcus Gilmore's propulsive beat supporting Iyer's far-ranging improvisation.
Music fans, critics and reviewers are all looking for the next new thing while great creative musicians know that music is about evolution, about the past informing and colliding with the present. Cecil Taylor's wall of pianistic sounds can be traced back to Art Tatum's rhapsodic improvisations and those traced back to James P. Johnson's “rent party" blues tunes. Vijay Iyer has been on the scene for over 15 years and his music never stops growing as he continues to evolve as a musician and human being, as he continues to listen and learn. When one gets beyond the “history" of this music, you can spend the time listening to how the trio works together, breathes together, avoiding cliches and the easy way out. There's plenty of antecedents to this program but what appeals to this listener s the passion and emotion of the musicians as they explore the possibilities. When you've begun to absorb this CD, go to npr.org and listen to the Trio's live performances of 7 of the recording's 10 tunes from Newport 2009. For more information about “Historicity", go to vijay-iyer.com.
Not By Chance - Joe Martin - (Anzic Records) - Bassist Joe Martin is a busy musician in the way that drummer Matt Wilson is, is not hyperbole. Both man know how to support a ensemble, how not to call attention to what they are playing (unless called for) and are inventive players. Martin has performed and recorded with the likes of guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, vocalist Andy Bey, composer Maria Schneider, and the Mingus Big Band (and that barely touches the surface.)
“Not By Chance“ is his second CD as a leader and is so good for so many reasons. The songs have real melodies and sections as opposed to just “blowing" tunes. That's not to say this band does not let loose - I don't think you could really contain Brad Mehldau (piano), Chris Potter (saxophones, bass clarinet) and the fine young drummer Marcus Gilmore. In interviews, Martin has said he's been writing this material for over 7 years and I imagine he must be greatly satisfied with the manner in which his 3 companions inhabit these songs. The title tune is a soft piece, with a light samba feel and Potter's soprano sax rising above the splashing cymbals, insistent piano chords and melodic bass counterpoint. Tempos change with ease on “Cache“, the surging drums and piano creating a tension for Potter's tenor sax to work with. Mehldau's gentle touch s evident throughout the ballad pieces, especially on “A Dream." His rich chordal textures, deliberate single-note fills and contemplative yet exploratory solo are so enjoyable. Martin's 's bass notes seem to melt beneath him. The only non-original comes from fellow bassist Jaco Pastorius, an abstract exploration titled “The Balloon Song“, with Potter's bass clarinet tugging and pulling at the rhythm section as if it were a windy day and he wanted to break loose. Gilmore does break loose on “The Stoic“, really driving the beat beneath Potter's impassioned tenor solo and Mehldau's short yet sweet improvisation.
Some people may buy this CD because they see Brad Mehldau or Chis Potter's name on the cover. That's okay - what they will get is a wonderful quartet recording on which no one steals the spotlight and intuitive interplay is but one of the joys of the program. Joe Martin has created music that is mature and entertaining, deserving of many listenings. For more information, go to joemartinbass.com or anzicrecords.com.
Music fans, critics and reviewers are all looking for the next new thing while great creative musicians know that music is about evolution, about the past informing and colliding with the present. Cecil Taylor's wall of pianistic sounds can be traced back to Art Tatum's rhapsodic improvisations and those traced back to James P. Johnson's “rent party" blues tunes. Vijay Iyer has been on the scene for over 15 years and his music never stops growing as he continues to evolve as a musician and human being, as he continues to listen and learn. When one gets beyond the “history" of this music, you can spend the time listening to how the trio works together, breathes together, avoiding cliches and the easy way out. There's plenty of antecedents to this program but what appeals to this listener s the passion and emotion of the musicians as they explore the possibilities. When you've begun to absorb this CD, go to npr.org and listen to the Trio's live performances of 7 of the recording's 10 tunes from Newport 2009. For more information about “Historicity", go to vijay-iyer.com.
Not By Chance - Joe Martin - (Anzic Records) - Bassist Joe Martin is a busy musician in the way that drummer Matt Wilson is, is not hyperbole. Both man know how to support a ensemble, how not to call attention to what they are playing (unless called for) and are inventive players. Martin has performed and recorded with the likes of guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, vocalist Andy Bey, composer Maria Schneider, and the Mingus Big Band (and that barely touches the surface.)
“Not By Chance“ is his second CD as a leader and is so good for so many reasons. The songs have real melodies and sections as opposed to just “blowing" tunes. That's not to say this band does not let loose - I don't think you could really contain Brad Mehldau (piano), Chris Potter (saxophones, bass clarinet) and the fine young drummer Marcus Gilmore. In interviews, Martin has said he's been writing this material for over 7 years and I imagine he must be greatly satisfied with the manner in which his 3 companions inhabit these songs. The title tune is a soft piece, with a light samba feel and Potter's soprano sax rising above the splashing cymbals, insistent piano chords and melodic bass counterpoint. Tempos change with ease on “Cache“, the surging drums and piano creating a tension for Potter's tenor sax to work with. Mehldau's gentle touch s evident throughout the ballad pieces, especially on “A Dream." His rich chordal textures, deliberate single-note fills and contemplative yet exploratory solo are so enjoyable. Martin's 's bass notes seem to melt beneath him. The only non-original comes from fellow bassist Jaco Pastorius, an abstract exploration titled “The Balloon Song“, with Potter's bass clarinet tugging and pulling at the rhythm section as if it were a windy day and he wanted to break loose. Gilmore does break loose on “The Stoic“, really driving the beat beneath Potter's impassioned tenor solo and Mehldau's short yet sweet improvisation.
Some people may buy this CD because they see Brad Mehldau or Chis Potter's name on the cover. That's okay - what they will get is a wonderful quartet recording on which no one steals the spotlight and intuitive interplay is but one of the joys of the program. Joe Martin has created music that is mature and entertaining, deserving of many listenings. For more information, go to joemartinbass.com or anzicrecords.com.
