Sunday, July 11, 2010

“Pianist Geri Allen sparkles on a top-notch solo disc”

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“Pianist Geri Allen sparkles on a top-notch solo disc”

Pianist Geri Allen sparkles on a top-notch solo disc

Posted: 11 Jul 2010 12:55 AM PDT


The drummers playfully spar with each other and Allen on her "Philly Joe" and Charlie Parker's "Ah-Leu-Cha." The pianist puts the pots on for burning romps through Tyner's modal "Four by Five." This band made a strong impression at last year's Detroit International Jazz Festival, and, as a bonus, the CD includes two videos from the festival. (Artist Carrie Mae Weems also contributed three short non-narrative films to the solo disc.)

Regina Carter, 47, turns to Mother Africa on "Reverse Thread" (***, E1), exploring folk material arranged for a band including kora (Yacouba Sissoko) and accordion (Gary Versace or Will Holshouser), along with guitar, acoustic or electric bass and drums. Carter funded the album with her MacArthur grant and it was a worthy investment. She sounds energized by the settings, from vivacious high-life rhythms to yearning expressions of tribal history. The exotic flavors mesh well with Carter's spunky violin, though her habit of quoting familiar ditties like Percy Grainger's "Country Gardens" sounds corny.

Barry Harris remains the greatest living bebop muse, but at 80, his fastball isn't what it used to be. That's OK. We listen today for the deep wisdom of his harmony, the flashes of wit, the bittersweet pungency of his chords, the soulfulness of his blues and the rhythmic rumble that proclaims his undying love for Bud Powell, Charlie Parker and Monk. There's a lot of this on "Live in Rennes" (**, Plus Loin), especially on ballads like Monk's "Ruby My Dear," Harris' fetching waltz "To Duke With Love" and a swinging "My Heart Stood Still" rendered in block chords at a gentle gait.

Still, Harris wasn't particularly consistent on this night, losing focus on several occasions, and bassist Mathias Allamane and drummer Philippe Soirat are weak-kneed accompanists. Harris would be better served by recording with peers and cherry-picking his most inspired takes.

Having said that, the CD is a fun document of a typical set, and the inclusion of Harris' patter between songs gives a real sense of his charisma and charm. The delightful audience participation numbers, including Harris' trademark bit where he translates random numbers supplied by the French audience into an on-the-spot composition, redeem much -- a sweet window into the mind of the hippest pedagogue on the planet.

Contact MARK STRYKER: 313-222-6459 or stryker@freepress.com • Playlist appears on Sunday and rotates among Stryker, Free Press pop music critic Brian McCollum and Free Press special writer Martin Bandyke.

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