So, what do you do next if you’ve been Bill Evans’ last bassist, done work with every top line drummer like Erskine, DeJohnette and Motian, teamed with guitarists ranging from Metheny to Scofield, and even did some sessions with pianist/wife Eliane Elias? How about going solo? OK!
Legendary acoustic bassist Marc Johnson enters the studio with spontaneous reads of some standards and his own tunes, and the result is a warm collection of solo arias. He shows his nimble bop chops on pieces like “Freedom Jazz Dance” and digital dexterity , with resonant subtones dancing on “And Strike Each Tuneful String”. His bowing and strumming converse on the melodic “Yin and Yang” and almost creates an almost duet effect bowing on “Samurai Fly”. Most of all, Johnson shows how to make silence and space a sound, resonantly creating a contrast on “Love Theme From Spartacus” and pastorally brooding on “Nardis”. Only an artist, or chef for that matter, who is comfortable and trusting in his craft could be patient enough to let his basic ingredients do the work their supposed to without resorting to adding too much flavor. A rich flavor.