Search - Marc Johnson, Erskine, Frisell :: Bass Desires

Bass Desires has become a recurring concept since this 1985 date, when it was merely the title of a CD and not a band. But the two-guitar quartet has a special appeal to bassist-leader Marc Johnson, who's joined here by drummer Peter Erskine and celebrated guitarists Bill Frisell and John Scofield. A study in the stylistic contrasts and shared values of the two six-stringers, Bass Desires shows off Scofield's linear, rapid-fire and hard-edged attack and Frisell's floating solos that use guitar synth to bend lines with elastic flexibility. Johnson's Japanese-themed "Samurai Hee-Haw" has Scofield tempering his funk with touches of hoedown, while Frisell adds atmospheric waves of sound to the folk ballad "Black Is the Color." Johnson is a superb melodist, apparent particularly in his unaccompanied introduction to the "Resolution" theme from John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, where Johnson's solo space builds toward strong work from both guitarists. All the tunes show thought, with Erskine's title tune setting a slow-moving theme against a fast tempo he and Johnson set down. The group is a format that seems to work for all concerned, with Frisell and Scofield clearly thriving on one another's presence, as well as with the rhythm section. --Stuart Broomer