The music on Dance might initially seem anything but that which might evoke dancing of the rhythmic kind. "Waltz Song" does not have any perceptible connection to the 3/4 dance, while the title tune, which might be visualizable in an avant-garde ballet, does not feel like a "dance". "Kalypso" sounds more of march rhythms than Calypso rhythms, and "Asia" does not evoke the Orient in any obvious way.
Nevertheless, there is a bouncing lightness in the music, led by Brackeen's extremely pure soprano saxophone. Brackeen's one track playing tenor, "Prelude" is played in its high register. Some of Motian's most attractive melodies/motives can be heard here. On "Asia," Brackeen floats like a butterfly or a cloud wisp as the melody, with its clear structure plays out against light arco bass and percussion. "Waltz Song" finds Brackeen declaming and then working the unfurling theme in rubato time, against a light, but steady rhythm set up by Motian and Izenzon, creating an intriguing tension. The last tune, "Lullaby" sounds faintly like "Dance" at times and the gongs, soft plucking and arco of the bass do manage to instill a sense of peace.
The music on Dance is quite subtle and never attempts at overpowering the listener, but rather wraps her in a delicate web of sound and evoked images. - Budd Kopman
Tracks
1. Waltz Song
2. Dance
3. Kalypso
4. Asia
5. Prelude
6. Lullaby
DAVID IZENZON bass
CHARLES BRACKEEN soprano and tenor saxophones
PAUL MOTIAN drums, percussion
Music composed by Paul Motion
Recorded September 1977 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg
ECM Records ECM 1108 / ECM Records - 519 282-2