Wherever the boundaries used to be, they no longer exist. Trumpeter Dave Douglas doesn't believe in that sort of thing, anyway. The eclectic mix on Freak In represents yet another departure for Douglas, the most exciting record he's made in his career as a leader. The heady stew includes swing, hard bop, mellow jazz, Indian tablas, loose funk, deep rock grooves, electronics, and helter-skelter abandon. Douglas gained a reputation in John Zorn's school of postmodern reconstruction, but his recordings to date have had a thematic focus. His recent Witness (Bluebird, 2001) and The Infinite (Bluebird, 2002) were strong critical favorites, each mining the modern jazz zone—beyond bop headed into fusion and free. This record may piss too many people off. Who cares.
Of the twelve tunes on the record, "Black Rock Park" best illustrates the breadth of Freak In and the clever ways Douglas chooses to combine styles. It launches with a punchy blues groove led by Marc Ribot's guitar, riding over spare (acoustic) drums. The guitarist briefly heads into shredding rock territory before coming together with Douglas for his statement of a simple climaxing theme. As retro keyboards slip in, saxophonist Chris Speed lands an adventurous bop-oriented solo. Another solo from Douglas, then it's back to the theme and out. The approach lies somewhere between Miles Davis's idea of jazz/rock fusion and John Zorn's conscious stylistic eclecticism. But unlike Zorn's jumpy postmodern bent, this record seeks to blend things together into a coherent, logical flow.
Douglas recruited a surprising variety of musicians for the date, dominated by New York's avant-garde insider circle. The electronic/percussion department lends texture and groove reinforcement, while guitarist Marc Ribot exploits his ability to set the group on fire. Douglas himself travels through a remarkable range of tone on his instrument—begone Miles Davis comparisons!
It's very important to point out that, whatever the range of material on this record, Freak In remains coherent all the way. That's a real feat given the circumstances, and a strong incentive for open-minded jazz lovers of all stripes. This is the boldest record Dave Douglas has ever made. And his best, which is saying a lot. - Aaa Staff
Dave Douglas' The Infinite was probably my favourite jazz album of last year (or any year come to that), so it was with a certain moistening of the earbuds that I slipped this latest effort in the CD player.
But there was a certain trepidation too; Mr Douglas is one of those musicians who never stays still for too long (it's that Downtown New York thing at work again; must be something in the water) so this was never likely to be Infinite part two, and it's a world away from the lush romanticism he explored there. Instead Freak In is a kaleidoscopic, powerful slice of electric jazz; the strange new worlds of Bitches Brew and On the Corner dragged into the 21st century.
Powered by samples, electronic percussion and the octopoidal drumming of Joey Baron (who can switch from impersonating depth charges tothe rustle of leaves in a single bar), it's a convincing mix of realtime playing and digital jiggery-pokery."Black Rock Park"is straight out of Live Evil; Marc Ribot (who's on superb form) tears through its abstract, stop-start funk with vicious bursts of post-Mclaughlin guitar action. Elsewhere snatches of drum 'n' bass crunch or furious postbop swing jostle for your attention.
The leader's trumpet excursions are predictably sweet, and his authority and emotional range shines even at high intensity levels. There are moments of quiet too; the stretched, oceanic drifts of "Maya" and "Porto Alegre" (with a considered, affectingtenor outing from Chris Speed) offer respite from the tensile, fiery pileups on show elsewhere.
While The Infinite left the listener (or this one anyway) in a state of bliss, Freak In's pleasures are edgier but no less potent. Dave gets his political message in too with quotes from Eduardo Galeano (chronicler of US imperialism in Latin America) and the direction "Put your headphones on and FREAK IN. Encourage world leaders to do the same". At the time of writing, that doesn't seem like a bad idea. - Peter Marsh
Tracks
01. Freak In
02. Culver City Park
03. Black Rock Park
04. Hot Club Of 13th Street
05. Eastern Parkway
06. November
07. Porto Alegre
08. The Great Schism
09. Wild Blue
10. Maya
11. Traveler There Is No Road
12. The Mystic Lamb
DAVE DOUGLAS trumpet, keyboards, voice
MARC RIBOT electric guitar
JOEY BARON drums
BRAD JONES baby bass, acoustic bass
IKUE MORI electronic percussion
JAMIE SAFT keyboards, loops, programming
CRAIG TABORN fender rhodes (7) (12)
MICHAEL SARIN drums (7) (12)
KARSH KALE tabla, additional drums on (1)
ROMERO LUBAMBO acoustic guitar (2)
SEAMUS BLAKE saxophone (1) (3) (5) (10)
CHRIS SPEED saxophone, clarinet (2) (6) (7) (8) (9) (12)
All music composed by Dave Douglas
Recorded July and September 2002 at Frank Booth, Brooklyn, NY
Bluebird - 09026 64008 2