June 1997

Scott Fields Ensemble
48 Motives, January 11, 1996
Cadence Jazz

By Bill Bennett

A double quartet, 48 eight-bar themes, each with its rhythmic counterpart, and a conductor to order and cue the themes at his discretion: those are the components of this recording. Fields counts on the interaction of these motives to generate interest. It happens at times, but the overall effect is that of minimalism: texture begging for development.