Playlist Week of 2013-10-19

* Scelsi: Natura Renovatur (Uitti/Münchener Kammerorchester/Poppen) (ECM CD)

* McCoy Tyner: Focal Point (Milestone LP)

* McCoy Tyner: Inner Voices (Milestone LP)

* McCoy Tyner: The Greeting (Milestone LP)

* McCoy Tyner: Horizon (Milestone LP)

* Henry Threadgill Zooid: TOMORROW SUNNY / THE REVELRY, Spp (Pi CD)

* David S. Ware Quartet: Go See The World (Columbia CD)

* David S. Ware Quartet: Surrendered (Columbia CD)

* Barre Phillips: Three Day Moon (ECM LP)

* Myra Melford Be Bread: The Image Of Your Body (Cryptogramophone CD)

* Myra Melford Be Bread: The Whole Tree Gone (Firehouse 12 CD)

* Mark Dresser Quintet: Nourishments (Clean Feed CD)

* Taylor Ho Bynum 7-tette: Navigation (Possibility Abstracts XII & XIII) (Firehouse 12 2CD)

* Mary Halvorson Septet: Illusionary Sea (Firehouse 12 CD)

* Dreams: Dreams (Columbia LP)

* Milton Nascimento: Milton (A&M LP)

* Bill Laswell: Broken Vessels (OST) (Velevel/KOCH CD)

* Tabla Beat Science: Tala Matrix (Axiom/Palm CD)

* Tabla Beat Science: Live In San Francisco At Stern Grove (Axiom/Palm 2CD)

* Jerry Garcia: Garcia Live Vol.3: Legion Of Mary: Northwest Tour ’74 (Round/ATO 3HDCD)

* McDonald & Giles: McDonald & Giles (Cotillion LP)

* Quiet Sun: Mainstream (Antilles LP)

* Vangelis: Opera Sauvage (Polydor LP)

* Automatic Man: Automatic Man (Island LP)

* Automatic Man: Visitors (Island LP)

* X: See How We Are (Elektra LP)

* Thurston Moore: Demolished Thoughts (Matador 2-45RPM LP)

* Lee Ranaldo & The Dust: Last Night On Earth (Matador 2LP)

* Yo La Tengo: Fade (Matador LP)

* Yo La Tengo: “Ohm” (Matador 4-EP)

* Seefeel: Polyfusia (Astralwerks/Caroline CD)

* Seefeel: Starethrough EP (Warp CDEP)

* Seefeel: Quique (Astralwerks/Caroline CD)

* Daft Punk: Random Access Memories (Columbia CD)†/‡

* Pelican: Forever Becoming (Southern Lord 2-45RPM LP)

* Pelican: Arktika (Live From Russia) (Southern Lord CD)

* Red Fang: Whales And Leeches (Relapse LP+12”)

* Uncle Acid: Mind Control (Metal Blade 2LP)

†=iPod

‡=car

Commentary:

It never ceases to amaze me how the language of jazz continually reinvents itself, remaining constantly recognizable yet endlessly new. For example, on the new CD by the Mark Dresser Quintet, Nourishments (Clean Feed), the bassist/composer takes inspiration from that most avant-garde of traditionalists, Charles Mingus, writing challenging yet often times swinging compositions for a group of musicians with whom he has been closely associated for many years. The result is at once accessible but also cerebral and abstractly beautiful. It is good old-fashioned jazz music, thoroughly reinvigorated.

The Mingus influence comes through in the instrumentation (with Rudresh Mahanthappa on alto saxophone, Micheal Dessen on trombone, Denman Maroney on piano and either Tom Rainey or Michael Sarin on drums) as well as in its compositional approach, reveling in the time-shifting metrical modulation and layered, asymmetrical ostinatos that characterized Mingus’s most memorable work. But there’s more going on here than just a nostalgic tribute. Dresser’s extensive experience with Anthony Braxton and as a leader in his right adds further levels of complexity, with what he calls in the liner notes “timbre sculpting” and “gradience (i.e. the blurring of boundaries between pitch and noise, meter and texture, form and feeling.” On several tracks, Maroney adds microtonal preparations to the piano, scraping and rubbing the strings while Dresser evokes otherworldly sounds with his bow. But, no matter how “out-there” the music might get at times, most of the compositions are built upon semi-conventional forms, ballads and blues, which allow for both collective and group improvisation that is unified, cohesive and utterly compelling. No doubt this is challenging, complex music—but played with such sensuous aplomb that it is delightfully easy to listen to.

In true Mingus-like fashion, several of the pieces are re-workings and rearrangements of prior compositions. For instance, the opening track, “Not Withstanding” began life as “Mauger Time” for the Mauger trio, a slippery, tempo-shifting bass line over which the rest of the group would collectively improvise. Here, Mahanthappa has added a twisty melody, which is fleshed out by Dessen’s trombone. Other tracks (“Canales Rose,” “Rasaman”) were originally conceived “telematically,” using the Internet to rehearse and perform across vast physical distances, with the title track originating in collaboration with filmmaker Sarah Jane Lapp. “Apertivo” was previously recorded on Time Changes (Cryptogramophone) (2005) with Maroney, Sarin and singer Alexandra Montano but is here given a rousing instrumental performance. A boisterous C-jam blues that would make Mingus proud, music that is both deeply rooted in tradition while being ever always up to the minute.

Nourishments is one of those albums that lives up to its title—as well as its delicious cover art. It is certainly good enough to eat. And, like a fine meal, this album is good for you, too, both body and soul. Most highly recommended to even the most cautiously adventurous jazz aficionado!