Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Scot Ray Quintet: Active Vapor Recovery

Scot Ray Quintet: Active Vapor Recovery

By Dan McClenaghan
June 25, 2003
View read count

In your face. That's how the Scot Ray Quintete's Active Vapor Recovery starts out on "Three Quarks." It has to do with attitude and Ray's axe: the trombone, an inherently in-your-face instrument. Ditto for the electric violin (Jeff Gauthier) and the electric guitar in the hands of Nels Cline. Wailing guitar chops and searing violin, combined with the forthright brass attack of the trombone.

The disc goes full-throttle for the most part, with some solid grooves matched with accessibility. Some funk, some loud avant jazz; and also some wandering sonic introspection.

The third tune, "Shiny Object," cooks with electric heat, Nels Cline's guitar simmering behind the front line trombone and violin interplay. "In Cleveland" almost sounds like 'In Detroit,' a trombone/guitar Motown sound...or on second thought, more like a James Brown groove, slashing chords, driving brass.

"Man With Kite" is the highlight, a ten minute mini-symphony opening with a wandering trombone and violin unison line, the rhythm section eventually gelling into a liquid groove. "Bitterroot," the closer, is a relaxed back porch moan that evokes wide open skies at dusk, a waning day holding hope for the future.

The odd instrumental mix here works beautifully on the hard driving barn burners and slower, more introspective pieces too.

Visit Cryptogramophone on the web.

Track Listing

Three Quarks, Above Breath, Shiny Object, In Cleveland, Man as Kite, Scarabaeus, Trouble with Sugar, Active Vapor Recovery, Bitteroot

Personnel

Scot Ray Quintet

Scot Ray, trombone; Jeff Gauthier, electric violin; Nels Cline, electric guitar; Steuart Liebig, contrabassguitars; Alex Cline, drums, percussion

Album information

Title: Active Vapor Recovery | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Cryptogramophone

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Syncopated Taint Septet
< Previous

Rule Of Three
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.