Crotchet |
DAVE DOUGLAS
FREAK IN
 Bluebird 09026
64008 2
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Dave Douglas, trumpet, keyboards, voice
Jamie Saft, keyboards, loops,
programming
Marc Ribot, electric guitar
Karsh Kale, tabla and additional
drums on (1)
Joey Baron, drums
Romero Lubambo, acoustic guitar
(2)
Brad Jones, Anpeg baby bass,
acoustic bass
Ikue Mori, electronic percussion
Seamus Blake, saxophone ( 1,
3, 5, 10 )
Chris Speed, saxophone, clarinet
( 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 )
Craig Taborn, Fender Rhodes
( 7, 12 )
Michael Sarin, drums ( 7, 12
)
Recorded July - September 2002 NYC
1. Freak In
2. Culver City Park
3. Black Rock Park
4. Hot Club Of 13th Street
5. Eastern Parkway
6. November
7. Porto Alegre
8. The Great Schism
9. Wild Blue
10. Maya
11. Traveller There Is No Road
This latest release from contemporary trumpet
king Dave Douglas is in many ways a continuation of the more electronic
stylings of post 60’s Miles Davis. The overall style is hard and aggressive
and yet there is much to recommend this recording. There is a great
feeling of freedom and joy throughout most of the pieces here and
there is a genuine swing generated on the brighter numbers. All of
the compositions are by the leader and are most effective, even if
some of them are of a somewhat angular nature.
The instrumentation is both rich and varied in
its originality. The use of the tabla on track one is reminiscent
of the work of Joe Zawinul , particularly of the middle period of
Weather Report such as the "Tail Spinnin’ "album. Track
2 is much more lyrical and yet still maintains a certain drive; this
tune has some beautifully controlled trumpet playing from Douglas,
showing of his dark and brooding tone. " Black Rock Park "
is much heavier, featuring the electric guitar with sparse accompaniments
from the brass. Rising saxophone star Seamus Blake puts in a telling
solo on this tune, illustrating the more way out side of his performing.
It is strange, but whenever I hear a younger musician playing in this
slightly askew manner I am always reminded of James Moody – perhaps
one of the unsung influences on so much of today’s improvisational
style.
The other reedman, Chris Speed , makes several
worthy contributions, but this record is really about the playing
of Douglas who is quite plainly one of the most original and gifted
musicians on the current scene. This disc represents what is best
in contemporary jazz – it is pushing the boundaries and yet it has
its roots firmly in previous styles.
Dick Stafford.
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