The Swallow Quintet: Into the Woodwork (ECM/Ode)

 |   |  <1 min read

Swallow Quintet: Suitable For Framing
The Swallow Quintet: Into the Woodwork (ECM/Ode)

On paper, all the ingredients are in place here where the seniors - - the wonderful bassist Steve Swallow and extraordinary composer Carla Bley -- are united with the new generation: guitarist Steve Gardenas, tenor player Chris Cheek and drummer Jorge Rossy.

But here Bley -- who plays organ rather than piano -- is almost inconsequential.

So -- while this is the respectful career footnote which jazz trivia-types might want to pay attention to -- the rude fact is that this album is very ordinary.

Neither the old guard --  nor the supposedly new, and ridiculously respectful young blades -- do anything which might make an aficiondo of either school sit up, pay attention to, and/orbe impressed by.

There is some undeniably pleasant playing (especially from guitarist Gardenas) and in Still There a mischievious Bley whimsically quotes from some unusual standards. But it's disappointing to report this is mostly workmanlike and improv-by-rote.

Extra-ordinarily ordinary. 

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Jazz at Elsewhere articles index

Nick Granville Group: Refractions (Rattle Jazz)

Nick Granville Group: Refractions (Rattle Jazz)

Some months ago New Zealand guitarist Nick Granville answered our Famous Elsewhere Jazz Questionnaire on the strength of what was then his forthcoming album Refractions. Well, that album has... > Read more

Candy Dulfer: Funked Up Chilled Out (Heads Up/Elite)

Candy Dulfer: Funked Up Chilled Out (Heads Up/Elite)

Consumer law revolves on the principle of "fitness for purpose" and you won't catch this saxophonist out on that score: this double disc is as it says on the cover, one disc of funked up... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Duran Duran: Spoiled, rude and stupid

Duran Duran: Spoiled, rude and stupid

Maybe it’s because he’s wearing what look to be his pyjamas – great big cottony, flowy things covered in only-safe-at-night checks – that John Taylor of Duran Duran looks... > Read more

THE BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2018: THE EDITOR'S PICKS

THE BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2018: THE EDITOR'S PICKS

By my loose count, Elsewhere has written reviews or overviews on around 200 albums this past year (mostly new releases but also reissues, compilations and so on). Most of those reviews appeared at... > Read more