The Buzz on experimental-minded bassist Ben Allison is all good, as (among numerous accolades) he'd been cited by Downbeat Magazine as one of "25 rising jazz stars for the future" and was selected in various categories in its critics poll as a talent deserving wider recognition. His 2002 disc Peace Pipe challenged mainstream jazz limitations by blending in hip-hop and African rhythms, and Buzz keeps the invention hopping -- sometimes that means pleasing a listener's sense of cool rhythm, other times defying gravity and reason a bit too much. Allison, working with his band of three multiple horn players, keys, and drums, is full of surprises, sometimes in mid-song. For nearly three minutes, the opening cut, "Respiration," plods along a moody, laid-back, horn-spiced path that sometimes borders on atonal; then fortunately, Allison gets into a funky blues mood and Frank Kimbrough's playful piano melody takes over, with Allison's bouncy bass and Michael Sarin's drums kicking in way offbeat. The eclectic, rhythmically off-center, and brass-punched title track really takes the idea of experimentation to the limit; Allison wraps seed pods around the strings of his bass, while Kimbrough sticks pennies and paper clips between piano strings. "Mauritania" combines a more consistent rhythm scheme with rising horns wrapped around Ted Nash's fluttering flute. The disc will appeal more or less to avant-garde jazz fans, who probably won't object to a meandering take on "Across the Universe" that seems to take as much time as a real trip. - Jonathan Widran
Despite its moderate tempo, "Respiration," the opening track on Buzz, sets an insistent tone that drives the album’s first three tracks. Bassist Ben Allison penned all three charts, which feature tight, energetic ensemble playing by the six-piece band as well as plenty of open space for improvisation, including a textured piano solo by Frank Kimbrough on "Respiration" and a blistering tenor solo by either Michael Blake or Ted Nash (the promo copy of the disc does not specify) on "Buzz." The third track, "Green Al," is an upbeat bluesy tenor feature that has the sort of undeniable appeal of which standards are made. Michael Sarin provides much of the energy on these numbers with his varied, driving drumming, but a clear kinetic sound emanates from each member of the band.
The next track, "Mauritania," was composed by Blake and features great flute work by Nash, as well as a strong solo by trombonist Clark Gayton (whose work adds a depth to the low end at various points throughout recording). The piece's slow groove seems to demarcate a change in the album’s energy level, however.
Though Andrew Hill's "Erato" brings Allison's bass playing to the fore and the individual parts are still well-performed, the driving force that energized the album's early numbers seems to seep away a bit. Allison's "R&B Fantasy" struggles against the trend with mixed results over its better than seven-minute length. Things grind to a near halt, however, on the album’s last number, a ponderous cover of the Beatles'"Across the Universe" (an admittedly ponderous song to begin with). It's tempting to say the final track is a Buzz killer, but the early tracks are definitely worth a spin. Buzz is uneven, but at its best, it's very, very good. - Rob Cline
Tracks
1. Respiration (Ben Allison)
2. Buzz (Ben Allison)
3. Green Al (Ben Allison)
4. Mauritania (Michael Blake)
5. Erato (Andrew Hill)
6. R&B Fantasy (Ben Allison)
7. Across the Universe (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
BEN ALLISON bass
MICHAEL SARIN drums
FRANK KIMBROUGH piano, electric piano, prepared piano
TED NASH tenor saxophone, flute
MICHAEL BLAKE tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
CLARK GAYTON trombone, bass trombone
Recorded in studio, Nov 19 & 20, 2003.
Palmetto Records – PM 2101