Kidd Jordan/Joel Futterman/Alvin Fielder: Live at the Tampere Jazz Happening 2000

The Kidd Jordan/Joel Futterman/ Alvin Fielder Trio works in what might be called the free-jazz mainstream-in other words, they get together and blow, making it up as they go along. While the concept is nothing special, the results can be-as the trio proves on Live at the Tampere Jazz Happening 2000 (Charles Lester). Tenor saxophonist Kidd Jordan is a textural player (meaning he plays fast, dude), somewhat remindful of Coltrane yet distinguished by a burly tone and lissome phrasing. Pianist Joel Futterman is speedy, too, a hyperactive improviser who throws everything into the pot, avoiding tonality at all costs. He’s an excellent player, and, like Jordan, he’s definitely got his own thing. Drummer Alvin Fielder is one of the most imaginative free-jazz drummers, adept at weaving an intricately designed, free-time web. Together these guys build something fantastic out of thin air, a set of untitled, unplanned, spontaneously conceived miniatures. So tight and explosive is this music, one might expect that these gentlemen play together more often than they probably do. A jazz happening, indeed.

Originally Published May 1, 2004