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Ezra Weiss: Persephone
After a prelude the balladic "Rise and Fall" opens with strong trumpet on a counter-theme: two or three horns, ingenious writing, sensitively attentive ensemble playing suggesting larger forces.
The padding drums/bass duo of Jason Brown (alternating throughout with Hart) and Leon Lee Dorsey lets Weiss relax on "Family Song." He doesn't play a lot of notes, but he includes several which most wouldn't think of. Mossman's a trumpeter capable of great heat and power, with no need to make much noise. I like the reeds' two-part harmony, Mossman's capacity to sound distant, the easing into a slow bump-and-grind rhythm, the altoist's expansion within, and near bursting out of, the whole set's dominant generally introspective context. He blares into the infinity of a slow fade, then on the next number up, "Winter Machine," it's almost Johnny Hodges over the small group and Billy Hart's throbbing drums. The trumpeter's on top, flaming, the bassist down below, Weiss doomy through an alto solo that builds intensity, then eases before the band intones concluding harmonies.
Dorsey's bass prefaces "The Dancer," wintry with a trumpet-led ensemble theme, soft alto, and dark, coaxing piano, the contrast between gentle thematic material and horn arrangement texture a perfect December feel, Dorsey's soft-toned bass soloing in snow, cold, over crisp ensemble playing and the Jack Frost of Billy Hart's cymbals.
Brown's back on drums on "Capricorn," kindling a little bonfire. The altoist tries carefully to warm himself; Mossman's trumpet jumps around like fresh flame, the horns retire to ensemble, and Weiss plays with warmed-sounding fingers. The temperature's definitely up by the end.
Weiss's lyrical playing opens "Persephone." With the entry of Mossman, Hart's flute, and Roberge's bass clarinet, we're in the middle movement of a piano concerto, which segues halfway through into Antonio Hart's recorder-like flute. Weiss's colouring lets Roberge re-enter, gradually lightening the ensemble on an ordinary B-flat clarinet. "Spring" means Persephone's annual return from below, as the altoist plainly knows; and Billy Hart, swishing cymbals. The slow, tender piano solo merges in chiming ensemble harmonies, Roberge's tenor velvety in obbligato.
This is a composer's pensive set, with empathic, superlatively accomplished players. It makes me long to hear these guys jam after hours. Ambitions to record a set entirely of new originals always should be informed by this much thought.
Track Listing
Lord Give Me Wings; Rise and Fall; Family Song; Winter Machine; The Dancer; Capricorn; Persephone; Laugh at Yourself; Spring.
Personnel
Ezra Weiss
pianoEzra Weiss: piano; Michael Philip Mossman: trumpet, flugelhorn; Antonio Hart: alto saxophone, flute; Kelly Roberge: tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet; Leon Lee Dorsey: bass; Billy Hart: drums (1,4,5,7,9); Jason Brown: drums (2,3,6,8).
Album information
Title: Persephone | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Umoja Productions