There was a time when a pianoless jazz combo was a true novelty. Baker & Mulligan on the West Coast Cool as well as Ornette Coleman’s Change of the Century on the East were watershed ideas. Here, the idea taken in a variety of ways with various levels of success.
Tenor saxist Rich Halley leads a quartet with Michael Vlatkovich/tb, Clyde Reed/b and Carson Halley/dr through a collection of originals that veers from letting freedom ring to cleverly contrived post bop. The thick texture of the two horns create some palpable harmonies with long tones on the bluesy “The Wisdom of Rocks” and the lazy groove of “Radial Symmetry.” While things get a bit frisky as on “Trip Through Turbulence,’ many of the pieces make you think of what Thelonious Monk would have sounded like if he were a horn player. Angular pieces such as “The Atoll,” the staccato “The Semblance of Stealth” and the melancholy “Heat in May” have quizically clever qualities that give tips of the hat to the hated genius. Very intriguing!
Stephane Spira plays both tenor and soprano sax in a similar combo with Glenn Ferris/tb, Johnathan Blake/dr and Steve Wood/b on pieces that come across a bit more straightforward. Boppers such as “Dawn in Manhattan” and “Flight” highlight Spira’s penetrating soprano. His tenor is cozy on the bluesy “In Between” and cheery on “Cosmaner.” Ferris’ trombone ponders on “In Transit” and “Glentleman” while some nice bass and drum interplay is displayed on “A Special Place” and “Grounds 4 Dismissal.” Clever.
Things get quite free on the duet session between Bernie Koenig (who switches between drums and vibes) and Glen Hall (who works on tenor sax, soprano sax, flute and bass flute). The eleven “impromptu improvisations” get quite thunderous as tenor and drums go toe to toe on the hard hitting “Hollow, How Ya Doin” and “Time For A Stiff Drink.” They get a bit chicka boomy on “Look At Her” yet get more thoughtful when Koenig goes over to vibes to meld with Hall’s flute on “Give It Some Time.” Soprano and vibes work well together also to create some sparks to fly as on “I Understand…” About as subtle as Ali and Frazier!