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 This is the quartet — with bassist Jean-Jacque Avenel and drummer John Betsch — that recorded the current Monk's Dream (Verve), a collection of Lacy originals, two handsomely arranged Monk classics, and an intrepid investigation of Ellington's "Koko." The news is that Rudd, a superb trombonist at his infrequent best, turns in his best performance in years, while Lacy demonstrates a mellow Iyricism ("The Bath"! "Grey Blue"!!) in addition to his usual geometric abstractions. They complement each other, making occasional gestures toward the avant-garde, but preferring to blow smoky meditations that are witting and evocative. An event.
Gary Giddins (voice choices, March 8-14, 2000) |
