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Michael Bates: A Fine Balance
ByOutside Sources is steered by bassist/composer Michael Bates. He favors wide-open spaces to fill with his and his band's joyful cacophony. His compositions nod to the classical masters, particularly Shostakovich and Prokofiev ("Prokofiev is based on a cello sonata by the composer). The disc opens with the boisterous "On Equilibrium and slides into the dirge-like "Entrance, accented by Quinsin Nachoff's reedy bass clarinet. "Charcoal features trumpeter Kevin Turcotte sparring with the clarinet against the rhythm section. This is jazz counterpoint, something which Bach would have been content to compose or improvise.
Bates' musical vision is one of freedom, but not at all costs. His compositions can be at once melodic and confounding. But no matter what, this is a thoroughly enjoyable recording, steeped in the the last forty years of the jazz tradition, which should occupy the CD tray for quite some time.
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Track Listing
Small Obstacles; On Equilibrium; Entrance; Charcoal; Prodigal; Prokofiev; Partly Innocent; St. Helen; Coppertone; Simple Interlude.
Personnel
Michael Bates
bassMichael Bates: bass; Quinsin Nachoff: reeds; Kevin Turcotte: trumpet; Mark Timmermans: drums.
Album information
Title: A Fine Balance | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Between the Lines
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