Songs That You Can Trust

Songs That You Can Trust

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Alto saxophonist Rob Reddy assembled a tremendous band for 1997's Post War Euphoria, with trumpeter Eddie Allen helping push the music into the multistylistic realm of Charles Mingus, James "Blood" Ulmer, and Sonny Sharrock. Songs That You Can Trust follows Euphoria's arrows further into Reddy's strong-willed, creative passion. He plays with a wry economy, phrasing solos so that they proceed with drama rather than flash. Trumpeter Allen and trombonist Josh Roseman make Reddy's band vibrantly jazzy, allowing bassist Dom Richards, guitarist Jef Lee Johnson, and drum phenomenon Pheeroan AkLaff to push the band's funkier side. Like Ulmer's tunes, these are powered by tight, power-stroke drumming that provides an ideal backdrop for the horns to alternate between riffing colors and solos that toss together soulful, hard-bop threads and the kind of fast-phrase burns that Ornette Coleman made his own in the early 1960s. Even with the sharp edges, Reddy's is an adventure that benefits fans of any jazz era. --Andrew Bartlett

From Jazziz
What's trustworthy about these songs for a bold sextet by soprano and alto saxophonist Reddy is that they come at you without pretense, storm without warning, and let you keep from them what you will. That could be a feeling from Reddy's impassioned solos, his insistent tone, or his cool but offbeat perspective (like the saunter of "Mad and Innocent"). Or it could be thrills from the Honor System's raging collective improvs ("Thread") and well-tended backdrops (everywhere). Or from Jef Lee Johnson's thoughtful, finger-picked "Good People" intro, his funkateer lines, and lonesome cowpoke sustained chords. Or the trumpet and sax squealing on-high when the trombone goes tubby, the solid kick and subtle details from the drums. Later, you wonder how these elements manage to hang together. Must be something in the compositions, which proceed confidently through a multitude of cinematic episodes, depending on the individual players to truly react as an ensemble. Reddy draws on concepts and pallettes of the aacm, way-post-bop, and anything-goes downtown movements, alluding to the mainstream in the course of embracing diverse possibilities. At 32, Reddy has obviously assimilated a lot, and is honing in on his originality. He's got the grasp, chops, and talents necessary to proceed. The tracks are mostly long - "Count Your Blessings" is almost 18 minutes; three of the eight others, more than 10 minutes - and rich in incident and surprise. Like Henry Threadgill (from whose circle Reddy employs sterling drummer Pheroan ak Laff, accomplished trumpeter Eddie Allen, and trombonist Josh Roseman), Reddy flaunts an elusive quality for all his fervor. His parade marches start cheery, then turn sardonic; his dirges are too sentimental to be sentimental, his drama satirizes melodrama. Beware: Nothing is as simple as it seems. Songs That You Can Trust gets by, far and fast, like sleight of hand - making one think: "Was I not listening?"

Songs That You Can Trust,Rob Reddy,Koch Records,Avant-Garde Jazz,Free Improvisation,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop

Jazz Music: Songs That You Can Trust

Jazz Music: