ORI KAPLAN TRIO PLUS
Realms
CIMP
#190

Kaplan’s crew finds its “Compass” starting with a postbop head, and playing. Rather than let things remain the same, the group eases into a loping “Drift,” but this is not a spacedrift piece, despite that the rhythm could be a Sun Ra dance. I can visualize the happy-go-lost-in-the-music grins of Abbs and Mann as they intermingle their rhythm and walk, knowing any listening would be swaying at very least their shoulders. Mann delicately and deliberately plays the seemingly-offhand, well-controlled shots that reggae drummers would envy. Kaplan begins to slither his alto like a snake charmer, and your body is the snake. Next they “Phase In” a more outside piece, as Kaplan explore variations of a theme he’s pulled out of the air.

The title track is a mournful melody, followed by a lively semibop theme, and a drum solo which comes to a head (pun intended) with a neat trumpet/sax duet, returning to the first wistful theme, it’s emotion underpinned by Abbs’ tuba. Nonetheless, you can’t end in sorrow and so the second theme returns, and cuts short; a cleverly-constructed journey. “To Whom” is a Lacy-like theme, and the trio allows a similar kind of air, space and togetherness as you would expect surround a Lacy group.

If this were an LP, “Green Jean” would start side two, and sometimes I listen to this lengthy disc as two separate sets. This cut recalls an Atlantic-era Ornette call-and-response piece, and the tuba and bass underneath afford added depth of texture. The producer’s notes go into detail about the recording of “Open Ceilings” and though he admires it, and although it is not bad, it is dispensable. “Altering Modes” immediately brings the level up with its contained energy and once again, the aural signatures of these instruments work very well together, as they do in the subsequent tracks...

I recommend catching any of these three live; they’ve never disappointed me. Watching Abbs when he plays bass simultaneously with his didgeridoo (ensconced between the bass strings!) is a treat, because he does it well, not just, as the old joke goes, because he can. I’ve seen Kaplan lead groups where he himself doesn’t play, and he is an exciting conductor and interesting composer. The audio is par for most recordings emanating from CIMP’s Spirit Room: clear and grey, lacking vibrancy and air, but not harming enjoyment of the music made there.

Steve Koenig

Track Listing: 1. Compass; 2. Drift; 3. Phase In; 4. Realms; 5. To Whom; 6. Green Jean; 7. Open Ceilings; 8. Altering Modes; 9. Dusk; 10. Be’er

Personnel: Ori Kaplan, alto saxophone; Tom Abbs, bass, tuba; Geoff Mann, drums, trumpet