Chris Potter’s “Traveling Mercies,” the followup to his highly acclaimed “Gratitude” album, is in many ways better, but in all ways more adventurous. “Gratitude” paid saxophone debts to the past with tunes dedicated to Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, but on the new release, Potter is in a traveling mood — ready to explore. Part of his success comes from his ability to simultaneously face jazz’s past and future.
Potter wastes no time getting into a strong electric mode, with guitarist John Scofield sitting in on the first track, “Megalopolis.” They lay down the lead line with a quirky offbeat and plenty of energy. The band, whose players — keyboardist Kevin Hays, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Bill Stewart — are all top-notch, make complicated rhythms seem easy. They kick into 4/4 for a couple of tunes, but stick with a freer rhythmic structure that offers both tension and release. “Snake Oil,” for example, stops and starts, gets going, then hesitates, fast-forwards, and then takes a couple of steps back. It’s dizzying, but intriguing. - Michael Pronko
Tracks
01. Megalopolis
02. Snake Oil
03. Invisible Man
04. Washed Ashore
05. Children Go (Traditional)
06. Any Moment Now
07. Migrations
08. Azalea
09. Highway One
10. Just As I Am (Willie Nelson)
SCOTT COLLEY bass
BILL STEWART drums
KEVIN HAYS electric piano, piano, clavinet
ADAM ROGERS guitar (3, 8)
JOHN SCOFIELD guitar (1, 4, 7)
ELIZABETH DATSON-WESTPHALEN vocal sampler (7)
DAVID BINNEY waterfall sampler (2)
CHRIS POTTER saxophone, bass clarinet, alto flute, sampler, reed organ & vocals (3)
Music composed by Chris Potter except (5) and (10) by Willie Nelson
Recorded January 27-29, 2002 at Avatar Studios
Verve Records - 440 018 243-2