Search - Gerry Gibbs, Ravi Coltrane :: Thrasher

Out of phase

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 09/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Is it possible to be too broadminded as a jazz musician? Given the evidence on this spectacular disc from a decade ago, the answer is yes.



Gerry Gibbs, son of the famous bebop vibes giant, Terry Gibbs, here displays an extensive (one might almost say exhaustive) knowledge of jazz in all its sundry forms and glories. To me, this disc, despite its huge eclecticism, hangs together marvelously.



And I agree with the other reviewer that real magic happens on the band's take of Duke's classic, "In a Sentimental Mood." Especially striking to me is Mark Feldman's wild playing on this hoary chestnut. The modernist violinist deconstructs this standard in a very loving fashion, but deconstruct it he does, what with his impossibly high registers and moaning soundscape. Yet there's marvelous retrieval as well; these lads have too much respect for the tradition to just unravel it and leaving it lying there, bleeding.



By the way, this is a band to die for. The leader (drums and lots of percussion) plays his butt off. Ravi Coltrane makes his strongest early statment. Joe Locke, perhaps the premier vibes on the scene, shows the great promise realized on his killer band, 4 Walls of Freedom, and Mark Feldman (violin) always stamps the proceedings with magic. For me, Dr. Billy Childs, piano meister and licensed psychologist, makes his strongest statement on disc. I credit this exceptional playing to the genius of leader Gibbs. It is understandable that he couldn't keep such a high-powered band together as a continuing recording unit, yet what I've heard of the band, Thrasher, that continues his vision, is very smart.



Highly recommended."