I was minded to write this post prompted by the exchange of comments with Richard Barrett concerning the current state of play of jazz and the fact I felt that there was still really innovative and creative music being made but this was hidden by the need to really hunt this music. The latest CD that I have just acquired is a really good case in point and is something I think he would find much to enjoy about it. For me, the appeal of jazz often comes from discovering something fresh and original but I think the late Mario Pavone's "Isabella" is a fascinating disc because so much is unfamiliar. The music is performed by a quartet consisting of the bassist, his guitar-playing son Michael, drummer Mike Sarin and altoist Mike DiRubbo but the arrangements were written by trumpter Dave Ballou who does not appear on this disc. Ballou is featured an another Mario Pavone record called "Blue Vertical" which was issued simultaneously and shares approximately 50% of the same material.
I have to say I am totally bowled over by this disc. I have never heard of Mike DiRubbo but he is another former pupilo of Jackie McLean whose career resume is more within the jazz mainstream. On this record, I felt that there were echoes of the likes of Steve Coleman and Steve Lehman in his playing and have been surprised that someone this good appears to be so under the wire. However, this is nothing compared Michael Pavone who is exceptional on this record. He is the most exciting guitarist I have discovered for a long while and, judging by his performance on this record, it is shocking that he is totally unfamiliar. I suppose you would pitch him somewhere between John Abercrombie and Kevin Eubanks in tone although in the context of this group this is probably freer and certainly more outside. This is a record that had received some very positive reviews and it was clear on first listen that this is a very interesting record indeed. It gets better and better with each listen. If you wanted to describe this group the obvious parallel would be something like Dave Holland's "Extensions" band but without the M-Base influence plus a tendency to burn at a lower temperature. "Blue Vertical" is almost glacial in tempo yet remains compelling. One of the tracks is dedicated to the proto-avant gardist Dick Twardzik with the music seeming to build up intensity as the CD works it's way to the conclusion.
I had always associated Mario Pavone as the bassist with the great Thomas Chapin and also knew he had worked extensively with Anthony Braxton. He is like an oak on this record. What I had not appreciated was his reputation as a jazz composer nor that he had a body of work behind him which consistently received high critical esteem. I was not aware of him beyond being a sideman yet his back catalogue is strongly suggestive that I had overlooked a major player in contemporary jazz. The themes are quite complex but not to the extent that they are unpenetrable. Of course, the musicians on this disc are all in their fifties and unfortunately Mario Pavone passed on earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. I am really keen to explore his music further. On the evidence of this album you would have to ask yourself how jazz as good as this can get overlooked.
In summary, this is a absolutely brilliant record and typifies for me what jazz should be like in the 2020s. There is not a hint of modishness about it and the whole disc is purely about the process of making great music. Plenty on this record to enjoy as I would suggest that is is something Richard would love as well as appealing to the broader spectrum of the regulars in here. In my opinion, records like this make it worthwhile explore the less obvious corners of jazz and seem to offer evidence that it is the smaller, independent labels such a Clean Feed who issued this disc who are releasing the defining jazz of these times.
I have to say I am totally bowled over by this disc. I have never heard of Mike DiRubbo but he is another former pupilo of Jackie McLean whose career resume is more within the jazz mainstream. On this record, I felt that there were echoes of the likes of Steve Coleman and Steve Lehman in his playing and have been surprised that someone this good appears to be so under the wire. However, this is nothing compared Michael Pavone who is exceptional on this record. He is the most exciting guitarist I have discovered for a long while and, judging by his performance on this record, it is shocking that he is totally unfamiliar. I suppose you would pitch him somewhere between John Abercrombie and Kevin Eubanks in tone although in the context of this group this is probably freer and certainly more outside. This is a record that had received some very positive reviews and it was clear on first listen that this is a very interesting record indeed. It gets better and better with each listen. If you wanted to describe this group the obvious parallel would be something like Dave Holland's "Extensions" band but without the M-Base influence plus a tendency to burn at a lower temperature. "Blue Vertical" is almost glacial in tempo yet remains compelling. One of the tracks is dedicated to the proto-avant gardist Dick Twardzik with the music seeming to build up intensity as the CD works it's way to the conclusion.
I had always associated Mario Pavone as the bassist with the great Thomas Chapin and also knew he had worked extensively with Anthony Braxton. He is like an oak on this record. What I had not appreciated was his reputation as a jazz composer nor that he had a body of work behind him which consistently received high critical esteem. I was not aware of him beyond being a sideman yet his back catalogue is strongly suggestive that I had overlooked a major player in contemporary jazz. The themes are quite complex but not to the extent that they are unpenetrable. Of course, the musicians on this disc are all in their fifties and unfortunately Mario Pavone passed on earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. I am really keen to explore his music further. On the evidence of this album you would have to ask yourself how jazz as good as this can get overlooked.
In summary, this is a absolutely brilliant record and typifies for me what jazz should be like in the 2020s. There is not a hint of modishness about it and the whole disc is purely about the process of making great music. Plenty on this record to enjoy as I would suggest that is is something Richard would love as well as appealing to the broader spectrum of the regulars in here. In my opinion, records like this make it worthwhile explore the less obvious corners of jazz and seem to offer evidence that it is the smaller, independent labels such a Clean Feed who issued this disc who are releasing the defining jazz of these times.
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