Paul Motian at the Village Vanguard, 6/24 & 25

[Other Steve]

Both good and bad experiences at the Village Vanguard this week, as Fred K and I attended the late set by Paul Motian on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The first night featured Motian's band Tethered Moon, which includes pianist Masabumi "Pooh" Kikuchi (who I was encountering for the first time) and bassist Gary Peacock. The leader was in predictably fine form, but I have to say I was mostly underwhelmed by the trio's super-sparse, super-slow, atomized approach. It sounded something like recent Paul Bley, only with far greater rents in the musical fabric; one of the players would stop playing on a regular basis, almost to the extent that there was more duo playing than trio playing in the set.

Kikuchi's touch was elegant enough, but his soft playing was accompanied by some of the most horrific grunting I've even heard emanating from the pianist -- and oddly, a great deal of it came when he was just playing heads, as opposed to when he was "exerting" himself in an extending solo flight. Peacock played well enough, but his instrument frankly sounded terrible; he had a bad case of reedy, overamplified twanginess that completely obliterated his low end. And both players were regularly overshadowed by a noisier-than-usual bar staff, with several explosive ice tray emptyings drowning out the music altogether, at least from where we were sitting.

The trio played four or five long tunes, some of which I thought were likely standards that I might know under other circumstances. The one tune I did recognize was "E lucevan le stelle," the great tenor aria from the third act of Puccini's Tosca, which worked surprisingly well as the basis for long, languid elaborations. To be perfectly honest, it was probably the only thing about the set that I genuinely, unreservedly enjoyed.

The next night could not have been more different, as Marilyn Crispell applied her burgeoning sense of dreamy romanticism to several of Motian's best-known compositions, including "Conception Vessel," "Circle Dance" and the powerfully moving "Johnny Broken Wing."

Motian showed off much more of his range tonight: The gentle, loosely splayed brushstrokes were still here, but "Conception Vessel" opened with a thundrous barrage before it settled into an incantory trance. And "Cosmology" was a mazelike puzzle of geometric bop, in which Motian and Helias tracked off on rhythmic tangents independent of the lines Crispell was playing.

Midway through the set, Crispell admitted that she'd been waiting her entire life to play in the Vanguard, and was feeling powerfully moved by the spirits of those who'd played there before her. She pointed out a photo of Coltrane on the opposite wall, then launched into a version of "After the Rain" marked by cascades of Debussy-like raindrops.

Throughout the set, the criminally undersung bassist Mark Helias magically weaved in and out of Crispell's figurations, moving from accompaniment to counterpoint and dialogue with disarming grace. Helias's "Limbo" was a highlight of the set. (Someone explain to me, please, why he's not working more often.) Crispell's tender, meditative "So Near, So Far," which ended with the ethereal whisper of Helias's bow, brought an incredibly satisfying set to an end.

The crowd was much more populous for Tuesday than for Wednesday, most likely because curious tourists flock to the opening night of a run, but also no doubt because much of Crispell's typical audience was uptown hearing Ornette. But Wednesday night was musicians' night; we saw Tim Berne and Tom Rainey leaving the first set, sat next to Joel Harrison, and saw Joe Lovano and Bill McHenry after the second set was over.

Motian is at the Vanguard for the rest of the week, and you should hear him if you get the chance. Tonight he's playing with Bill McHenry's group, a CD release event for Bill's new quartet disc on Fresh Sounds New Talent (Motian's on the CD, as well). Friday night is the Electric Bebop Band, Saturday is Trio 2000 + 1 (Masabumi Kikuchi, Drew Gress, Tony Malaby) and Sunday is McHenry, Motian and Charlie Haden (count on a mob scene, I'd guess).

[gonzo]

motian is the performer i would most like to see, neither of us is getting younger. i'd especially love to see him with the EBB.

[Tom Storer]

Alain Le Roux and I interviewed Mark Helias and Ellery Eskelin a few years ago when Open Loose was in town. If I recall correctly, Helias teaches on the staff of a university someplace--that might take up a lot of his time. I could be wrong, but my impression was that he picks his jobs.

[Jiveman]

Awesome reviews Steve--Thanks!

[jazzy mary]

Great review, other steve. Thanks. I would LOVE to hear the Electric be-bop band tonight but I have tickets to a ballet competition at the Met!

I'd love to go on Sunday, I'd better make a reservation now!!

On another note, last night I saw Neil Young and Crazy Horse at the garden! It was great. But more about that later.

[hearsay]

Nice review Steve. I've seen Helias a few times recently (with Greg Osby, Jason Moran and his own group) and he's never less than terrific, a very empathetic bassist. I have no idea why he's not working more, and I wish he was able to lead his own group more too.

I'd like to see the Sunday gig, but probably won't be able to. I've been underwhelmed by Mchenry so far though so I'm curious to see what that would be.

[james harrigan]

thanks for the great review, OS. Did you get to see the Thursday set?

brett, re Helias, this is what is up at Cornelia Street on July 25:

OPEN LOOSE: CD RELEASE VERBS OF WILL: Mark Helias, bass; Tony Malaby, sax; Tom Rainey, drums, 9pm

[Other Steve]

Originally posted by james harrigan
thanks for the great review, OS. Did you get to see the Thursday set?

No - I'd have liked to, but there was domestic pressure to take a night off, if you follow my drift! I didn't make any of Motian's other sets, but I did catch a nice double header of Dave Brubeck and Shirley Horn on Friday.

brett, re Helias, this is what is up at Cornelia Street on July 25:

OPEN LOOSE: CD RELEASE VERBS OF WILL: Mark Helias, bass; Tony Malaby, sax; Tom Rainey, drums, 9pm

This is SUCH great news. If I can make this, I will.