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The bane of any reviewer: clearly well-played music that scarcely moves him an inch. I’m sorry, but I
simply haven’t the mental capacity, musical acumen or whatever it takes to appreciate
Humidity, drummer Matt Wilson's fifth album for Palmetto Records, even though Wilson and
his companions are first-class players who are giving it everything they have.
I suppose I’m stuck in some sort of time warp, as today’s avant-garde jazz leaves me far more
bewildered than gladdened. Whatever my bias, Wilson is a marvelous drummer -- anyone can hear
that -- but his music, while sometimes interesting, is seldom emotionally rewarding, at least to these
ears. I have a low tolerance for bleating, braying, screeching, growling and other jarring techniques
used by the various horns (Andrew D’Angelo, Jeff Lederer, guests John Carlson and Curtis
Hasselbring) to express their point of view. Beg pardon, gentlemen, but I’ve been around long
enough to remember Zoot, Stan, Clifford, Sonny, even Prez, Bird, Diz and so many other legendary
voices that I’m unimpressed by dissonance posing as innovation.
Tadd Dameron’s “Our Delight” isn’t bad (D’Angelo’s solo calls to mind Eric Dolphy) but Wilson
and the others even manage to sterilize a lovely ballad, “Don’t Blame Me,” which deserves better
(even though Lederer’s tenor solo is perhaps his best). As for Wilson’s compositions (he wrote
everything else except for D’Angelo’s “Free Willy”), I found it hard to warm to any of them except the
rhythmic “Thank You Billy Higgins” and evocative “Raga,” which makes the most of its East Indian
motif. These pieces enable Wilson to pull out all the stops and show his prowess as a jazz drummer
who is blessed with superior creativity and resourcefulness. From that standpoint, at least, the album
is an unqualified success.
As for the rest, we can only try to remember where we are coming from and judge accordingly,
as there are many who lean toward jazz that crosses customary boundaries and in doing so
exposes a cutting edge. Humidity certainly does that, and does it well.
Contact: Palmetto Records, 71 Washington Place, New York, NY 10011 (phone 1–800–
PALMCDS).
Visit www.palmetto-records.com.
~ Jack Bowers
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Track Listing: Thank You Billy Higgins; Swimming in the Trees; Cooperation; Free Willy; Wall Shadows; Raga;
Code Yellow; Humidity; Don’t Blame Me; Our Delight; All My Children; Beginning of a Memory
(53:58).
Personnel: Andrew D’Angelo, alto sax, bass clarinet, handbells; Jeff Lederer, tenor, soprano sax, clarinet,
handbells; Yosuke Inoue, acoustic, electric bass, handbells; Matt Wilson, drums, percussion,
chimes, univox, handbells. Special guests — Felicia Wilson (2, 8, 12), violin; John Carlson (2, 8),
trumpet, pocket trumpet; Curtis Hasselbring (2, 8), trombone.
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