Players - Downbeat

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Jeff “Tain” Watts
Watts
DARK KEY 002
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INSIDE REVIEWS
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Of the possible metaphors for swing, I like those that
invoke a body of water. Swing can function like
undertow, with a force that operates from an unseen
place, pulling and pushing with energy drawn from
the deep. When Jeff “Tain” Watts and Christian
McBride kick into gear, the result has that sort of
tidal, elemental power. Music like this needs a certified
lifeguard.
Supergroups are often a disappointment. But
when one appears that challenges the participants, it
can be a rollicking good time. With this riptide
rhythm team in place, the star front-line has plenty to
work with and is spurred to moments of greatness.
Branford Marsalis, who generally sounds terrific,
seems especially relaxed to be out of the leadership
role. In a cool, soul-jazz setting like “Katrina James,”
the tenorman slurs blusily and spars cooperatively
with Terence Blanchard over Watts’ Crescent City
crunch. Blanchard, too, sounds brilliant, particularly
without Marsalis on the Monk-ish “Dingle-Dangle.”
The drummer’s tunes are well-suited, whether
introducing a groggy little out-of-time break into the
head on “Wry Köln” or swapping lead between the
two horns on “Return Of The Jitney Man” (listen to
Marsalis ally oop the solo to Blanchard like Ornette
Coleman to Don Cherry).
Meanwhile, underneath, Watts and McBride
churn and burn. The drums are mixed high and a bit
cavernously, but it is a drummer’s date, after all.
There’s a bit of freewheeling fun on “Dancin’ 4
Chicken” that recalls the Art Ensemble of Chicago
(though like him as I may, Don Moye could never
swing this rock hard). Check out McBride’s gonzo
arco on that track, channeling Slam Stewart.
Watts takes a turn alone on “M’buzai,” which
features earthy mallet work. Only the ballad
“Owed ...”—its interesting twists don’t overcome its
syrup—and a weird agitprop theater piece, “The
Devil’s Ring Tone,” are less durable. Too bad Watts
didn’t put the instrumental version of “Devil’s Ring
Tone” first in the program, so listeners who had
heard the the vocal one a couple of times didn’t have
to skip over it. —John Corbett
Watts: Return Of The Jitney Man; Brekky With Drecky; Katrina
James; Owed ...; Dancin’ 4 Chicken; Wry Köln; Dingle-Dangle; Devil’s
Ring Tone: The Movie; M’buzai; The Devil’s Ring Tone. (62:25)
Personnel: Jeff “Tain” Watts, drums; Terence Blanchard, trumpet;
Branford Marsalis, tenor and soprano saxophone; Christian McBride,
bass; Lawrence Fields, piano (4).
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Ordering info: chambersoftain.com
April 2009 DOWNBEAT 61