AprilCadence2013

MIKE REED’S PEOPLE,
PLACES, AND
THINGS
CLEAN ON THE
CORNER
482 MUSIC 1081
THE LADY HAS A BOMB/
OLD/ DECEMBER?/ WHERE
THE STORY ENDS/ SHARON/
HOUSE OF
THREE SMILES/ THE
EPHEMERAL WORDS OF
RUTH/ WARMING DOWN.
45:28.
Mike Reed, d, perc; Greg
Ward, as; Tim Haldeman,
ts; Craig Taborn, p 5,7;
Josh Berman, cornet 6,8.
September
and October, 2010, Chicago,
Illinois.
New Issues
165 | CadenCe Magazine | april May June 2013
The Chicago quartet's first three releases paid homage
to that city's jazz, blues, and improvised music
of the latter part of the 1950s. Although the present
recording departs from that theme, Chicago icon
Roscoe Mitchell's mournful blues, "Old," is included,
as is undeservedly-obscure Chicago alto saxophonist
John Jenkins's hard bop swinger "Sharon." They
complement leader/drummer Mike Reed's six originals.
And this time, the group's normal instrumentation of
alto and tenor saxophones, bass, and drums is augmented
by Craig Taborn's piano on two tracks and Josh
Berman's cornet on two others. Their music exhibits
an optimal amount of both freshness and familiarity.
There's enough straight-ahead swing and bop-derived
phraseology to keep traditional listeners grounded, but
there are also sufficient forays into free jazz territory
to keep those listeners on their toes. As an example of
the former, the saxophone exchanges on the blazing
"Sharon" bring to mind the tenor "battles" and "chases"
of times past involving Chicago native Gene Ammons
and others. Standing in contrast is "The Lady Has A
Bomb," where squeaks, squawks, and unmeasured runs
are not uncommon. And the dirge-like "December?"
at times projects an almost ambient feeling with its
non-conventional bass sounds, high-pitched bells, and
barely moving saxophone lines. The members of the
quartet have been together long enough to coalesce as
a unit. Plus, they're all fine improvisers who handle their
instruments with easy agility. The latter applies to their
guests as well.
David Franklin