If you are looking for evidence that genius still inhabits contemporary jazz, Ethan Iverson's work is a good place to start. I blogged on Iverson
back in June (sorry, but the links have been removed). Iverson has been most visible as a member of The Bad Plus, a very eclectic and unspeakably daring group including Reid Anderson on bass and Dave King on drums. To get an idea of how daring they are, they walked away from a contract with a major label (Columbia) because they didn't like the anti-piracy shenanigans that Columbia was up to.
The Bad Plus recently appeared at the Village Vanguard, and you can download a recording of their concert from
the NPR Village Vanguard site. I haven't listened to it yet, or to their most recent recording
For All I Care, which includes Wendy Lewis' sinuous vocals. The group's most conspicuous feature is their treatment of pop and rock songs. The new album has a version of Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb'! And here is clip of the group performing Black Sabbath's 'Iron Man'.
Okay, but what I really wanted to post about tonight are three albums I have listened to, with bassist Reid Anderson as leader.
Dirty Show Tunes (1998) with Iverson on piano, Mark Turner on Sax, and Jorge Rossy on drums.
Abolish Bad Architecture (1999) Jeff Ballard replaces Rossy on drums.
The Vastness of Space (2000), with Ben Monder on guitar, Andrew D'Angelo on alto, Bill McHenry on Tenor, and Marlon Browden on drums.
All three are superb recordings. You can't help but love the title of the second one, and the titles of many of the compositions are equally entertaining. The jazz is at once very accessible and refreshingly unfamiliar in texture. Turner's tenor dominates the first two, and I think his playing here is more compelling and brilliant than anything I have heard elsewhere. Iverson knows exactly where all the acupuncture points beneath the skin of the melodies, and he plays with a penetrating and rejuvenating touch. The Vastness of Space is maybe a little more edgy, but only a little.
I really dig these albums. As far as I know, Anderson hasn't recorded again as leader, so when you download them for eMusic, you have a complete set. Here is a sample from each album:
Not Sentimental/Dirty Show Tunes
Todas las cosas se van/Abolish Bad Architecture
Foxy/The Vastness of Space
Please, if you like this music, buy the recordings. And while you are at it, drop me a line.