Murder of Don Fanucci - Jason Moran, Coppola, Carmine
Twelve - Jason Moran, Byard, Jaki
Three of the Same from Two Different - Jason Moran, Moran, Jason
Fragment of a Necklace - Jason Moran, Moran, Jason
Battle of the Cattle Acts - Jason Moran, Moran, Jason
Gangsterism on Wood - Jason Moran, Moran, Jason
Along with such players as Greg Osby, Stefon Harris, and Mark Shim, Jason Moran is making jazz that reflects myriad influences, from the traditional bop guard to Icelandic techno artist Bjork to contemporary classical and ... more »beyond. But theirs is not some studied attempt at a new music, or a stab at solo stardom created by labels and producers. Facing Left, like the New Directions group and Harris's lauded Black Action Figure, is serious, evocative, gripping, and explorative jazz. With dense, involving support from drummer Nasheet Waits and bassist Tarus Mateen, Moran begins Facing Left with the delicately erotic maze of "Later." "Thief Without Loot" darts over funky grooves with both acoustic and Rhodes piano, kind of a twinkling tightrope walk. Bjork is a favorite among many young musicians, and here Moran covers her moonlight missive "Joga" with elegance and a touch of Thelonious Monk. In fact, Monk surfaces often here (try the rambunctious Duke Ellington track, "Wig Wise"), mostly in Moran's touch. Also present is the luminous grace of Keith Jarrett, the logic of Herbie Hancock, and the lush romanticism of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Using rhythm like a conjurer's wand, Moran employs weird, stumbling beats in "Yojimbo" and "Battle of the Cattle Acts," while "Murder of Don Fanucci" rides a staggering military march. --Ken Micallef« less
Along with such players as Greg Osby, Stefon Harris, and Mark Shim, Jason Moran is making jazz that reflects myriad influences, from the traditional bop guard to Icelandic techno artist Bjork to contemporary classical and beyond. But theirs is not some studied attempt at a new music, or a stab at solo stardom created by labels and producers. Facing Left, like the New Directions group and Harris's lauded Black Action Figure, is serious, evocative, gripping, and explorative jazz. With dense, involving support from drummer Nasheet Waits and bassist Tarus Mateen, Moran begins Facing Left with the delicately erotic maze of "Later." "Thief Without Loot" darts over funky grooves with both acoustic and Rhodes piano, kind of a twinkling tightrope walk. Bjork is a favorite among many young musicians, and here Moran covers her moonlight missive "Joga" with elegance and a touch of Thelonious Monk. In fact, Monk surfaces often here (try the rambunctious Duke Ellington track, "Wig Wise"), mostly in Moran's touch. Also present is the luminous grace of Keith Jarrett, the logic of Herbie Hancock, and the lush romanticism of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Using rhythm like a conjurer's wand, Moran employs weird, stumbling beats in "Yojimbo" and "Battle of the Cattle Acts," while "Murder of Don Fanucci" rides a staggering military march. --Ken Micallef
teresa ruggles | olathe, KS United States | 06/28/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"i was amazed upon hearing Soundtrack to Human Motion, Jason Moran's first recording as a leader. It showed his individualistic style, his great composition skills and his all around wonderful musicianship. and Facing Left is more of the same. although only a trio album, it has power. Moran on piano, Fender Rhodes, and Hammond b3, Tarus Mateen on bass, and Nasheet Waits on drums create amazing textures and colors on these six Moran pieces and seven interpratations. The two Ellington pieces smoke. Moran mixes bits of the avant garde with classic jazz. he realizes that his elders in jazz are very important. but he also realizes that he can not tread in their foot steps. he quickly runs past them. the album is great, buy it and support a true artist pushing the limits of jazz."
Strong jazz, somewhere between old and new school
Scott Woods | Columbus, Ohio United States | 01/05/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you're looking for smooth jazz, you are COMPLETELY in the wrong place. Even when this guy is playing ballads, he's rough, and I dig it. I'm a big fan of young, contemporary-minded cats who write their own stuff; who play traditional jazz through their own eyes, and aren't trying to simply out-Coltrane John Coltrane. Alongside Stefon Harris, Greg Osby and others of their ilk, Moran is giving you the jazz that Thelonius Monk would have if he had played Playstation, watched cartoons and ate gyros on a Saturday night with his boys while watching a basketball game.Not that there isn't some hardcore history note-taking taking place here: there's MAD Herbie Hancock (circa 1970) influence here, and a wallopingly profound realization of a Bjork song(!). Those guys at Blue Note are doing something special over there with Moran, Osby and Stefon Harris (and their supergroup offering, "New Directions"), and we'd do well to support it. It's either that or watch them fade off into obscurity for genuinely pushing a much-needing-to-be-moved envelope. It's not for the faint of heart; some of the funk is hard to keep up with if you aren't into hardcore traditional jazz already. But if you dig Stefon Harris, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, Steve Coleman or Miles Davis fusion (70s) stuff, give it a whirl. It's pretty strong tonic. In fact, it's Medeski Marrtin Wood with an actual, obvious groove."
An ecclectic treasure
p dizzle | augusta, georgia, USA | 07/29/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"with "facing left," mr. moran gives us the most exciting piano trio album of the year. variety is the theme here, as mr. moran explores many of the different artists that have shaped his own style, which is becoming powerful in its own right. the range here is from ellington swing ('later') to jarrett exploration ('joga'-- interesting because it is a bjork tune)to tastes of the avant garde ('three of the same...'). mr. moran is a melodic player who creates colorful soundscapes playing with rhythm and harmony in much the same way a poet plays with words. the trio setting allows us to really get to hear and appreciate mr. moran's talent. his support in tarus mateen on bass and nasheet watts on drums is superb. i hope this trio stays together for a long time. if you are interested in jazz that thinks and swings at the same time, this album is worth every penny."
A good but not great sophomore disc
N. Dorward | Toronto, ON Canada | 03/06/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Jason Moran's been getting a lot of good press lately, especially from the NY Times' Ben Ratliff. I've found him an interesting & sympathetic figure--a young player who eschews the boring mainstream brew of Evans, Hancock et al which most young jazz pianists purvey, for a style predicated upon the more experimental areas of the Blue Note catalogue in its heyday (Andrew Hill, Jaki Byard & Herbie Nichols seem to be important influences, along with Ellington & Monk). But he's yet to deliver a fully satisfying disc, though his third disc, _Black Stars_, is surely his best yet, & his debut, _Soundtrack to Human Motion_, is also quite intriguing. _Facing Left_, his trio album, is surely his weakest effort, in which a bunch of interesting ingredients--his striking piano style, a good band, an eclectic mix of influences from pop song, film music & urban grooves--never really adds up. He dots the album with a little electric keyboard & organ but basically it's a straight piano trio; most tracks are very brief (2-5 minutes) & seem more like jumble sales of good ideas than convincing performances. "Twelve", a nice blues, turns out well, & is basically pinched from Moran's teacher Jaki Byard (compare the chords Moran uses once the solo gets going to Byard's blues "Mrs Parker of KC" on Dolphy & Little's _Far Cry_). "Wig Wise" actually suggests Herbie Nichols more than Ellington. Really, none of the tracks here is without interest, but they often impress without striking much deeper. Consider this disc as a small manifesto for the young player, & wait for him to really put out the masterpiece he surely has in him; meanwhile, check out his other two discs rather than this one. I look forward to his forthcoming solo CD."
Maybe the best JaMo album
Gentle Giant | 12/31/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Black Stars" is really good too, but this one really has it from start to finish. I don't like it when Taurus Mateen starts playing electric bass on the more recent albums. I saw them live and the electric bass was much louder than the piano!!! Yuck.
But this is really, really interesting playing by all three members. I think Nasheet Waits is one of the best younger drummers. He has his own style, coming out of free playing but with some Jack DeJohnette in there too. He, Jason, and Mateen seem to play the beat real rubbery--not evenly. It shouldn't work but I like it.
Good idea to play a Bjork cover--a boon to get your girlfriend into the CD (she remains partial to "The Bad Plus," of course.)"