Among the many recordings that straddle the jazz and rock genres, the most well-known and recognized are those falling under the “fusion” heading. Jazz fans are familiar with the density and energy of Miles Davis’ fusion records of the late 1960s and 70s, and with the genre’s lineage through musicians such as Michael and Randy Brecker. Recently however, I’ve begun hearing more and more music that incorporates jazz and rock elements, yet lies outside the fusion tradition. In a recent find, trombonist Brian Drye’s Bizingas, that defiance of category comes largely from Drye’s selection of musicians and instruments.
Bizingas relies heavily on backbeats and straight eighth-notes, unapologetic signs of its rock influence. The opening track’s mixed meter (a scrappy 5/8) even suggests the rhythmic complexity that fusion fans know so well. But there the similarities end. Drye’s harmonies are scaled-down, often triadic. There is space on the bottom: no bass guitar. Melodically, Drye seems less concerned with flexing his ensemble’s technical muscles (as so often seems to be the case with fusion music) than with stamping vivid patterns over the rhythm section. “Tagger” sounds exuberant, as Kirk Knuffke and Drye blaze soloistic trails incorporating blues and bebop elements through optimistic major chords in guitar.
Employing musicians of such uniformly high caliber enables Drye to musically isolate any combination of his collaborators. “Iluminum” features a trombone/trumpet duet that is as dexterous as it is sensitive and musical, followed by guitar and drums in a busy ramble that is the closest this album gets to traditional free jazz. “TMT” combines Drye’s piano with Knuffke’s cornet into a playful composite voice which, after stating the tune’s melody, gradually peels apart into two individual voices: as creative and careful a use of melody as I’ve ever heard.
Tying Bizingas together are its rhythmic playfulness, juxtaposing heavy downbeats with fritillary runs, and its strict attention to musical roles: each musician encounters moments of rigid simplicity and soloistic freedom, often within the same piece.
Release Date:
NCM East Records, December 7th, 2010
Personnel:
- Brian Drye – trombone, piano, synth, compositions
- Jonathan Goldberger – guitar, baritone guitar
- Kirk Knuffke – cornet
- Ches Smith – drums, glockenspiel
Track Listing:
- Tagger
- Money Market
- TMT
- Iluminum
- Pastoral
- Sifting
- Stretched Thin
- Guilty
- Farmer
- Untitled Moog Anthem
