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By Harvey Pekar for Jazz Times
This two-CD harbinger of the future contains material recorded from January 1988 to March 1990 by the Mosaic Sextet, which contained trumpeter Dave Douglas, bassoonist Michael Rabinowitz, violinist Mark Feldman, pianist Michael Jefry Stevens, bassist Joe Fonda and drummer Harvey Sorgen, all of whom are significant figures today. Though the Mosaic Sextet gigged occasionally, it was mainly a rehearsal band.
Most of the compositions on these CDs-one which was out of print, the other previously unissued-are by Douglas and Stevens, though Rabinowitz wrote two. Among Douglas' aims is to blur the distinction between notated and improvised music, so that it all sounds spontaneous. His writing has a strong 20th-century classical component. Stravinsky marked his work at this time. His "Gang Wars for Sextet" is through-composed and "Earth Tones" is an extended-form piece. Stevens' major virtue is his ability to write fresh, attractive melodies, but he's also a provocative composer. Steven's "Trio for Sextet" is a kind of mini-concerto grosso. His "Drum Song, " though a hymnlike piece, features Sorgen's drumming, and he's also contributed an extended-form piece, "Anthem." His almost 15-minute "Today, This Moment" highlights kaleidoscopically changing collective improvisation, as well as his gently dissonant piano work. Rabinowitz's "Bassoon Lines" is multisectioned, and his "Motivation" is a happy, swinging piece.
There's top notch improvising throughout the set. Douglas plays magnificently; check out his huge-toned lower register tone on "Mosaic." No matter what challenges are posed by the compositions he's got the answer. Rabinowitz and Feldman not only add unique colors to the ensemble, but also do a great job of fitting their work appropriately into the context of the selections they're performing, swinging convincingly when that's called for or breaking up their lines unpredictably during improvised ensemble passages. Stevens' soloing seems drawn from an unusual combination of influences-Bill Evans, Cecil Taylor, Wynton Kelly-but he puts ideas together quite coherently. And every time I focus on their playing, Fonda and Sorgen are doing something right. The six men who made this set have accomplished plenty that's impressive since, but their efforts on these two discs will always rate among their finest achievements.
Source: CD Reviews section from the July/August 2001 issue of JazzTimes
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 JazzTimes and Harvey Pekar.
CD Reviews
All reviews written by Harvey Pekar:
- Kevin Norton Ensemble featuring Anthony Braxton: "For Guy Debord" (In Nine Events)
- Mosaic Sextet: Mosaic Sextet
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July 01, 2001 by Glenn Astarita for AllAboutJazz
No doubt, the folks at GM Recordings have done a great service for modern jazz aficionados by reissuing one previously hard to find German import CD and another CD featuring previously unreleased material by a true cutting edge, band known as The Mosaic Sextet.
Fans of trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas, violinist Mark Feldman, bassist Joe Fonda and pianist Michael Jefry Stevens should have something to get all worked up about, with this smartly packaged 2-CD set! Recorded between 1988-1990, this ensemble melded bassoonist Michael Rabinowitz' jazzy lines with penetrating rhythmic underpinnings along with Douglas' and Feldman's rapid fire unison choruses and richly thematic cross-currents. Simply put, this unit was in a class of its own as they fabricated interweaving motifs brimming with hard boiled swing vamps, experimental harmonic and rhythmic patterns, modern/free-jazz exchanges and orchestral voicings. Otherwise, the band traverses through a series of tricky time signatures, lofty peaks, cavernous regions of sound and previously uncharted musical terrain. Subsequently, these musicians have garnered accolades and prominence within modern jazz circles. However, much of the music presented on these two CDs may have provided a spark for the respective instrumentalists continual development and willingness to take risks! Basically, the Mosaic Sextet is one of the year's most important, and altogether essential offerings. Strongly recommended!
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 AllAboutJazz and Glenn Astarita.
CD Reviews
All reviews written by Glenn Astarita:
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Forever Real
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Twelve Improvisations
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Live at the Bunker
- Mosaic Sextet: Mosaic Sextet
- FAB: Transforming The Space
- Mark Whitecage's Other Quartet: Consensual Tension
- Anthony Braxton: Small Ensemble Music (Wesleyan) 1994
- Kevin Norton Ensemble featuring Anthony Braxton: For Guy Debord (In Nine Events)
- Fonda-Isbin: Blisters
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Trio (Live at Alchemia, Krakow, Poland, April 2006)
- The Nu Band: The Dope and The Ghost, Live in Vienna
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David Beardsley for Downtown Music Gallery (Newsletter 55)
The press release for this cd claims that this was Dave's first release as a leader, but this is not true — it was a democratic sextet with no leader in which three members composed the tunes and every member contributed to the seamless success/flow. It was recorded between 1988 and 1990 and was released as a single cd on the Konnex label, but has been out-of-print for quite a while. The unit featured an unusual frontline of Dave on trumpet, Mark Feldman on violin (both continued to work in New & Used and currently Charms of the Night Sky) and Michael Rabinowitz on bassoon (friend & collaborator of Thomas Chapin) and the excellent rhythm team of Michael Jefrey Stevens on piano, Joe Fonda on bass and Harvey Sorgen (future Hot Tuna) on drums. This is now a double cd - the second cd is over an hour of mostly longer previously unreleased gems. I recall Michael J. Stevens telling me how much he looked forward to weekly rehearsals with this group since Dave would bring a new and challenging tune each week. The second cd begins with "Underground" - the unique trumpet-violin-bassoon frontline sounds just right since the writing is so solid - the bassoon and violin solo together weaving their spirited solos into a dense and exciting web. The hip-notic riff is right out of that late 60's Blue Note-land sound. Michael J. Steven's "Anthem" starts off stark, delicate and lovely - Dave playing the gorgeous melody as Mark holds back the fireworks and plays an elegant violin solo - drummer Harvey Sorgen spins quick waves around the piano-trumpet-violin sailing spirits. These pieces are long and often move through different sections/landscapes - going beyond the usual jazz constraints and into epics which are in between categories. On "Motivation" - the opening section creates one mood which then takes off as the violin, bassoon, trumpet and drums each take inspired, hard swinging solos. Dave's superb "Earth Tones" is closer to more progressive or more fusion/aggressive structure - Mark's violin starting to take off into the skies - Rabinowitz actually plays a great (get this) wah-wah bassoon solo - not altering his fine tone too much - Dave also takes a classic, dramatic, award-winning solo. This bassoon player is an incredible soloist who certainly deserves some recognition - he has at least one cd out under his own name - so be on the lookout for Michael Rabinowitz. His piece "Bassoon Lines" has some great free sections weaving through dense written sections - brilliantly executed! Steven's "Afternoon" is mainly very minimal Morton Feldman-like sonic splatters which flutter through different densities eventually picking up speed and transforming into a wonderful Spanish groove and with another great solo from Dave. The first cd blasts off with the exciting title tune - "Mosaic" with both great writing and fine solos all around. Although Dave's "Gang Wars" is under two minutes, it has immensely challenging ultra-tight start and stop sections which are marvelously well constructed and performed. Mr. Stevens' "Mr. Phinney" is a sort of blues thing with heartfelt solos from the violin and trumpet. Dave's "In Progress" is another difficult work for tight, intricate, quick spinning lines that keeps all the players on their toes and the listeners on the edge of their seats. "Oskar" also has a swell bluesy swagger and great warm solos from the bassoon, trumpet and the violin. Dave's amazing "Superconductor" is filled with a variety of quick-changing sections - the rhythm team swinging ultra-fast as they push each soloist up to heavens - wow! The aptly titled "Children's Somber Dance" is a laid back and relaxed fairy tale like piece - ever elegant. The original title piece is/was "Today, This Moment" and it is filled with layers of intersecting lines as the violin, bassoon and trumpet all swirl their solos simultaneously - the piano led rhythm team also swirling around the soloists and uplifting the spirits from below. There is wonderful writing, solid ensemble playing and superb solos throughout this entire double cd.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 Downtown Music Gallery and David Beardsley.
CD Reviews
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