Bassics
July/August 2003 By Nate Chinen
Eight Plus
Dreyfus Records
Surprise is at the root of Eight Plus (Dreyfus), a session by the matchless Ron Carter originally recorded in 1990. As its title implies, the album features a nonet, which is no surprise in and of itself. What's unexpected is Carter's instrumentation: standard...
July/August 2003 By Nate Chinen
The Gait Keeper
Sunnyside
Rufus Reid is a stalwart of the bottom line, having played on seemingly countless albums and tours. His newest album as a leader, appropriately titled The Gait Keeper (Sunnyside), could additionally establish his credentials as a composer of note. The original...
July/August 2003 By Nate Chinen
The Ozell Tapes
3 Deuces
The Ozell Tapes: The Official Bootleg (3 Deuces/Telarc), is a two-disc compendium of live performances from electric bass phenom Marcus Miller. And Miller's electric sextet delivers a virtual dissertation of blistering instrumental funk. The results are...
July/August 2003 By Nate Chinen
The Music of Mel Graves
Mutable Music
Fluency is a constant throughout Ear Shot's The Music of Mel Graves (Mutable). As a bassist, Graves mostly steers from the backseat; as a composer he favors odd time signatures and cascading melodic figures. His chief partners in this venture are flutist...
July/August 2003 By Nate Chinen
Swept Away
Sparky 1
Mary Ann McSweeney offers an admirably catholic approach on her sophomore album Swept Away (Sparky1). The buoyant theme of her "Journey to the Center" leads to an ethereal "Atheada," which in turn brings "Siva's Moon Dance"-the latter two pieces featuring...
July/August 2003 By Nate Chinen
Swinging Lullabyes for My Rosetta
Mapleshade Productions
Maryland bassist John Previti has backed rockabilly guitarist Danny Gatton as well as jazz plectorists Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis. But Swinging Lullabyes for My Rosetta (Mapleshade), his first album as a leader, is a dyed-in-the-wool swing record. Featuring...
July/August 2003 By Nate Chinen
Lines and Grooves
Jazzheads Records
D.C.-area bassist Joshua Bayer delivers a straightforward bop effort with Lines and Grooves (Jazzheads). Like much of the material from the '60s by Charlie Mariano and Phil Woods, this is an alto-quartet date. (It's perhaps not coincidental that alto saxophonist...
July/August 2003 By Nate Chinen
The Lay of the Land
Whaling City Sound
Mike Pope roams far and wide throughout The Lay of the Land (Whaling City), his strong and auspicious debut. Pope, an alumnus of the North Texas State jazz program, has become something of a staple on the New York scene, and this album should solidify his...
July/August 2003 By Nate Chinen
Passage
Fresh Sound New Talent
Joe Martin is a New York player of the "musician's musician" variety. Passage (Fresh Sound New Talent), his recording debut, is first and foremost a showcase for the rapport he shares with tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, pianist Kevin Hays and drummer Jorge...
