4 1/2 Stars Best of 2004 list Pavone, who wrote all the tunes, has worked extensively
with the likes of Anthony Braxton and Thomas Chapin, and can play inside
or outside with equal facility. His work is never flashy, but it’s
deeply centered. Orange is a tasty helping of venturesome modern jazz.
...Pavone’s postbop compositions mix a biting
intelligence with a hard-wound feel for the blues. Bassist Mario Pavone shapes lean, wiry music. Though
never too austere to welcome charm, Orange promotes sinew, strength and
deliberation that never becomes ponderous. Behind the foreground action,
Pavone and Madsen strike deep dialogue. Very, very few jazz bassists can cover the range that
Mario Pavone swings on Orange. ...Orange continues Pavone's streak of strong programs.
Pavone may be over 60 years old but his music retains a youthful zeal.
He continues to search for ways to express and expand his sound and to
create sonic landscapes that allow his fellow musicians to develop their
own voices. The bassist Mario Pavone works his strings with the
force and persistence of a sculptor chipping away at granite. The sheer
dynamism of his playing is matched by the lustre of his writing and arranging
for small bands. The band displays great depth as they bob and weave
throughout the upbeat numbers that skirt the fringes of free jazz and
the straight and narrow. Madsen’s melodically woven, upper register
chord voicings on the piece titled 'Rebass Song,' signifies just one of
the album’s many highlights. Bernstein's slow-burning ascent and greasy slurs in
'Goorootoo' climax in a shower of sparks; the rhythm section deftly shadows
his descent. Quietly creeping into Bernstein's wake, Malaby investigates
lines and chords from every angle, before combusting in his own pyrotechnic
display. Peter Madsen, Pavone's piano foil for more than a decade, provides
his usual, reliable support throughout the session (and cuts loose with
gleeful abandon on four trio cuts), while new drummer Gerald Cleaver sounds
like he was born to drive this vehicle. Pavone's agreeable music should hold appeal for listeners
of both inside and outside persuasions, from those enamored of hard bop
and post-bop through to those favoring more open-ended styles of jazz
exploration. Orange deserves space on the shelf next to classic Blue Note,
Prestige, and Riverside releases, as well as jazz discs of more recent
vintage from New World, Tzadik, and Knitting Factory, not to mention Playscape.
What stronger recommendation could be made? Orange is one of his best: juicy and refreshing. ...while these tunes keep chaos at bay with tightly
composed melodies, chaos is given its due through the exciting and risky
soloing of the musicians...throughout Orange, the best of Pavone's music,
whether for trio or quintet, is on full display. Bassist Mario Pavone continues to offer exciting and
stimulating music on this latest work with his quintet and trio. As for
the compositions, what makes them so compelling is the spontaneity, despite
the written lines, and the high caliber soloists, who consistently provide
substance for interested ears. This is a superb release...with both soulful
and complex patters for the multi-faceted listener. Orange, the second disc by Pavone's Nu Trio/Quintet,
sets the bar extremely high. Nine neatly calibrated originals—four
trios, five quintets—are masterful examples of group interplay,
rooted in a compelling union of smarts and intuition, predetermined and
ephemeral forms. At the heart of things is an extraordinary pulse—sometimes
swinging, sometimes grinding and sometimes sliced into pieces. Pick of the Week Recommended New Release Publisher's Pick Best New Releases of 2003 List Best of 2003 List |