By Glenn Astarita
Riding The Nuclear Tiger by Ben Allison & Medicine Wheel (Palmetto)
Bassist/composer Ben Allison's compelling compositional pen resurfaces on his latest effort, as the artist renders multi-layered - little big band - style charts in concert with memorable melodies and spacious frameworks. Here, members of the Jazz Composers Collective rise to the occasion once again as they reconstruct previously stated themes in cyclic and often polytonal fashion via lush voicings and a strong sense of swing amid the leader's absorbing arrangements. Hence, another impressive production by an artisan, who has rapidly become one of the most respected composers in modern jazz. Highly recommended.
Palmetto Records
Jazz Composers Collective
Pure by Cuong Vu (Knitting Factory Records)
Trumpeter Cuong Vu has been making a notable difference in modern jazz, and with his latest venture, he enlists the formidable rhythm section of bassist Stomu Takeishi and drummer John Hollenbeck for a series of dreamy soundscapes boasting complex rhythmic structures and ethereal motifs. Here, Vu steers the band for a series of pieces containing otherworldly notions and fervent improvisational speak.
Knitting Factory
Theremin Noir by Rob Schwimmer, Uri Caine, Mark Feldman (November Music)
On this release, multi-instrumentalist Rob Schwimmer demonstrates his expertise and creativity on the theremin, an instrument which has been called the predecessor to the Moog synthesizer. At times, Schwimmer's melodies are eerie, poignantly beautiful or somewhat morose, while the artist garners reverent assistance from pianist Uri Caine and violinist Mark Feldman as the trio toggles between modern/free jazz motifs and semi-austere, contemporary classical-style sequences. Schwimmer also incorporates the accordian, waterphone, daxophone and "various toys", into these enticingly surreal pieces.
Email: november.music@dial.pipex.com
