Bassist Steve LaSpina enjoys a long and lasting relationship with the Steeplechase label, some 34 sessions to date. With such a history in place, a green light usually arrives with each new project of his devising. This latest entry leads to the conclusion that such relative cart blanche might not always be a good thing. The finger of blame points primarily at guitarist Vic Juris, his amplified frets routinely caulking the harmonic cracks and smoothing over the compositional edges with a shimmery reverb sheen. The overarching effect of his contributions is often akin to the more syrupy solipsistic side of Bill Frisell. Even turns to unadorned acoustic guitar on “You” and “Why” do little to sharpen his sound, though the warbling harmonics of “Tuesday Too” and “In Place Of” are captivating exceptions. Trumpeter Dave Ballou and saxophonist Billy Drewes are similarly sedate for much of the date and it’s hard not to pine for more biting grit and provocation on their parts as well.
The prevailing dulcifying mood is a chief reason why LaSpina’s terse solo feature “It’s Just a Riff in G” acts like such a shot of aural black coffee. Brazenly funky and free from drowsy sentimentality, it’s an all too anomalous respite from the surrounding decorum and parity. His ensemble bracketed solos, while frequent, don’t convey the same heft or potency. Other pieces in the program are reminiscent of Herbie Hancock’s modal investigations on Speak Like a Child, echoing both the bad and the good in such a comparison. Technique-wise, these five players have a stockpile to squander. It’s the material and their polished approach to it that leads the ears in a maddening state of stasis. LaSpina unintentionally intimates this outcome in his observations: "It turned out to be one of those dates where all goes smoothly" and “This was a fun session, without tension”. If only an infusion of the musical caffeine so prominent in his solo piece could’ve infiltrated various of the album’s other tracks. As it stands, the bulk is simply too mannered and soporific to unreservedly recommend.
[Steeplechase titles are available direct through Stateside AT prodigy DOT net]
~ Derek Taylor
Posted by derek on June 12, 2008 11:50 AM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................