Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth: Epicenter

11

Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth: Epicenter

By

View read count
Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth: Epicenter
Chris Lightcap is a bassist's bassist. As a sideman to leaders such as Regina Carter, Matt Wilson, Joe Morris, Marc Ribot, and Craig Taborn, his rock-solid timekeeping can be quite inconspicuous. He is a sort of steadfast superglue that leaders and composers hold in high regard.

As a leader and composer, there is another Chris Lightcap. Epicenter, is his third Bigmouth release, following the quintet Deluxe (Clean Feed, 2010) and a quartet Bigmouth (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2002). He continues to display his ability to sculpt music utilizing a two-tenor saxophone lineup. Previously recording with Tony Malaby and Bill McHenry, then Malaby and Andrew D'Angelo, and now Malaby and Chris Cheek.

The first seven tracks here, "Lost And Found: New York" were commissioned by the Chamber Music America New Jazz Works in 2011. Lightcap's writing draws from the old jazz avant-garde that didn't eschew tempo and infectious pulse. The opening track "Nine South," with Craig Taborn reiterating Wurlitzer piano notes, weaves an intricate counterpane of sound. That quilt, perhaps comforter, is a synthesis of the absorbing groove laid down by the bassist and drummer Gerald Cleaver and the two tenor attack. The brusque sound of Malaby is juxtaposed by Cheek's amicable approach. The title track, a take-off on the early music Ornette Coleman, pops with energy and vigor. The music spills both sweet and savory, with the rhythm section set to parboil.

With the keyboards of Taborn, the options available to Lightcap appear endless. He can play circular new music, hammer out a dense cloud of sound, and switch between acoustic and electric piano and organ. "Down East" is a pounding composition that is mulch for his band to attack and "Stillwell" and "Stone By Stone" wind gentler harmonies around each other. Lou Reed's "All Tomorrow's Parties" recalls the majesty of The Velvet Underground. Reminding us how guttersnipes can also be royalty.

Track Listing

Nine South; White Horse; Epicenter; Arthur Avenue; Down East; Stillwell; Stone by Stone; All Tomorrow's Parties.

Personnel

Chris Lightcap: bass, acoustic guitar, organ; Craig Taborn: Wurlitzer, electric piano, piano, organ; Tony Malaby: tenor saxophone; Chris Cheek: tenor saxophone; Gerald Cleaver: drums, percussion.

Album information

Title: Epicenter | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Clean Feed Records

Tags

Comments


PREVIOUS / NEXT



Chris Lightcap Concerts


Support All About 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 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.

Near

More

Eternal Moments
Yoko Yates
From "The Hellhole"
Marshall Crenshaw
Tramonto
John Taylor

Popular

Old Home/New Home
The Brian Martin Big Band
My Ideal
Sam Dillon
Ecliptic
Shifa شفاء - Rachel Musson, Pat Thomas, Mark Sanders
Lado B Brazilian Project 2
Catina DeLuna & Otmaro Ruíz

Get more of a good thing!

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

Install All About Jazz

iOS Instructions:

To install this app, follow these steps:

All About Jazz would like to send you notifications

Notifications include timely alerts to content of interest, such as articles, reviews, new features, and more. These can be configured in Settings.