Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jeff "Tain" Watts: Citizen Tain

192

Jeff "Tain" Watts: Citizen Tain

By

Sign in to view read count
Jeff "Tain" Watts: Citizen Tain
In the mid 80s a single record got me hooked on straight-ahead jazz, and that record was Wynton Marsalis’s Black Codes from the Underground. The powerhouse drumming of Jeff "Tain" Watts was one of the elements that floored me. Watts remains a pillar of the current scene, playing in Branford Marsalis’s brilliant quartet and doing fine work for Michael Brecker, Kenny Garrett, Dave Holland, and others. Citizen Tain is his debut as a leader.

The disc opens with "The Impaler." The head sounds uncannily like vintage Blue Note. Wynton and Branford play the fast, twisting melody with a precision that recalls Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson on In ’n’ Out. Once the solos kick in, "The Impaler" could almost be a track on Black Codes. Wynton, who plays only on the first and last cuts, breathes fire—his solo is practically worth the price of admission. He hands the baton to Branford, who solos fiercely on tenor as the band temporarily suspends the form, vamping modally over one of those wild, Tainish bash-out grooves. When the tension’s about ready to boil over, the group reenters the form and reverts back to mad swing. Branford finishes his say and then Kenny Kirkland takes over on piano. Yes, this is the sound that converted me. When you think about it, though, it’s no surprise that this track sounds so much like Wynton’s old quintet. It is Wynton’s old quintet. And it’s marvelous to hear.

Tain’s agenda, however, is not a trip down Marsalis memory lane. Citizen Tain is supposed to highlight the drummer’s fledgling compositional abilities. All tracks but one are Tain originals. In addition to "The Impaler," four others are absolutely stunning. "Attainment," a quartet piece featuring Branford, suggests "Alabama"-era Coltrane but its surprising cadences and unpredictable form transport it into wholly new territory. "Pools of Amber" is a Kirkland trio feature with gorgeous changes and motifs. "Wry Köln," another quartet number, melds burning post-bop and free jazz in ingenious ways, with turn-on-a-dime tempo and feel changes and a "wry" rubato interlude that sounds like a maudlin moment in a silent film score. (Bassist Eric Revis replaces Reginald Veal for this one track.) And the ambitious yet brief "Destruction and Rebirth Suite" begins with a spooky "MLK Shake-Up Call" and segues into a beautiful ballad called "Paen," which features Tain on vibes.

The remaining tracks feature some great playing but don’t rise to the same level as compositions. "Muphkin Man" is a Monk-inspired piano trio feature with excellent soloing by Kirkland, Veal, and Tain. "Blutain, Jr." and "Bigtain’s Blue Adventure" are variations on the same blues theme—one that appeared a couple of years ago on Branford’s The Dark Keys. Altoist Kenny Garrett makes an appearance on "Sigmund Groid," which sounds more like a Kenny Garrett tune than a Tain tune. This is a telling example of how Tain's voice at times is too similar to the voices of the various heavyweight leaders for whom he has worked. Another example is "Trieste"; a far better performance of this great Paul Motian composition appears on Branford’s latest CD, Requiem. Tain could have chosen a tune that Branford hasn’t already recorded.

On the whole, then, a tad uneven but still remarkable. Admirers of the late, great Kenny Kirkland will certainly be gratified. And when the CD stops spinning, listeners will be licking their chops in anticipation of their next helping of Tain originals.

Cyberhome: www.columbiajazz.com

Track Listing

1. The Impaler (Watts) - 9:18 2. Muphkin Man (Watts) - 6:04 3. Attainment (Watts) - 8:44 4. Pools of Amber (Watts) - 5:10 5. Blutain, Jr. (Watts) - 4:45 6. Wry Koln (Watts) - 9:42 7. MLK Shake-Up Call (Watts) - 1:01 8. Paen (Watts) - 2:27 9. Sigmund Groid (Watts) - 8:37 10. Trieste (Motain) - 7:28 11. Blutain's Big Adventure (Watts) - 7:43

Personnel

Kenny Kirkland - Piano Reginald Veal - Bass Jeff "Tain" Watts - Drums, Vocals (bckgr) Kenny Garrett - Sax (Alto) Branford Marsalis - Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor) Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet Delfeayo Marsalis - Trombone Eric Revis - Bass

Album information

Title: Citizen Tain | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Columbia Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create 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.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve 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.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.