Customer Reviews

Constellations

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Trumpeter Dave Douglas has become one of the leading voices of contemporary jazz. This album from 1995 is probably my favourite of his works. It is with his "Tiny Bell Trio" (with Brad Shoeppach [now Shepik] on guitar and Jim Black on drums). The writing on the album is inspired by Eastern European song forms, and the tunes are wonderful. I specially like "Scriabin," but there are many great cuts on this CD. Anyone interested in the current state of jazz should have this album.

"Constellations" opens with the title track, a fairly straightforward catchy song. A lot of Dave Douglas discs start with a catchy one, and this is no exception. "Unhooking The Safety Net" has an Eastern European feel to the melody, and is free-jazzy. "Hope Ring True" is fairly free, though there's a theme running through it. You can hear very quickly that the band is very tight - this CD was recorded mid-tour. "Taking Sides" is a highlight with some great improv. "The Gig" is a Herbie Nichols song that's been delightfully dismantled and reassembled on the fly. I've seen a few jazz writers say this is one of the best CD's of the 90's. Unfortunately for me, I don't like the next three songs as much, taking this out of the running. "Vanitatus Vanitatum" closes the CD out in humorous fashion.

If you like Dave Douglas, the Tiny Bell Trio, or modern jazz, I recommend this. I'm not sure it's one of the best of the '90's, but it's good.