Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Buster Williams: Griot Libert

144

Buster Williams: Griot Libert

By

View read count
Buster Williams: Griot Libert
The instrumental lineup may mimic the Modern Jazz Quartet and, to be sure, Buster Williams' choice of vibes as the other front-line instrument was so that he could similarly "express a certain softness in [the] music." But that's where the comparison ends. Griot Libertè may also swing on the light side like MJQ, but the musical choices are far more weighty.

Opening with the modal workout "Nomads," Williams is quick to establish his dark and meaty tone, placed high in the mix yet surprisingly never overpowering; while Williams is willing and capable of using his instrument to define the groove along with drummer Lenny White, whose cymbal-centric approach contributes to the overall grace of the recording, he is clearly an equal partner in the proceedings.

Williams' charts are deceptive. "Related to One" is a blues-based tune, but by being in two keys with an eight-bar section by way of introduction, the result is a more challenging piece navigated effortlessly by vibraphonist Stefon Harris, whose talent seems to be growing in leaps and bounds, and pianist George Colligan, who is certainly no stranger to more complex composition.

The revelation of the recording is White, whose understated and elegant performance demonstrates a versatility that those familiar with his more fusion- and funk-oriented work might be surprised to hear. While he works the kit, his emphasis is on light cymbal work to define the time, and that, along with the more ethereal quality of Harris' vibes, are in direct contrast to Williams more visceral sound. It is, in fact, the juxtaposition of light and dark, gentle and forceful that gives the record its definition.

Williams demonstrates his ability to construct a compelling solo on his variation on "Concierto de Aranjuez." His piccolo bass work is lyrical and reverent, while at the same time bringing new meaning to this often-covered piece.

While the rhythmic emphasis is lighter, "Joined at the Hip" demonstrates that this band can swing hard without sacrificing any of its subtlety. The only odd thing, and in fact a surprising choice with a recording that has been impeccably recorded by master engineer Rudy Van Gelder, is the heavy use of reverb and gating on the drums during White's solo. For a recording that has such an organic feel, such obvious processing feels out of place.

Still, it's a minor quibble for a record that demonstrates how two seemingly dissimilar approaches can be brought together to create a unified whole. With White and Harris representing air, and Williams and Colligan grounding the sound firmly in earth, Griot Libertè is a project whose ultimate success should not be surprising; Williams has, over the course of forty years, demonstrated a remarkable natural sense of construction and an unfailingly refined musical instinct that makes every project well worth investigating.

Visit Buster Williams on the web.

Track Listing

Nomads; Related to One; The Triumphant Dance of the Butterfly; The Wind of an Immortal Soul; Every Time We Say Goodbye; Joined at the Hip; Concierto de Aranjuez; After the Ninth Wave.

Personnel

Buster Williams
bass, acoustic

Buster Williams: bass, piccolo bass; Stefon Harris: vibraphone, marimba; George Colligan: piano; Lenny White: drums.

Album information

Title: Griot Libert | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: HighNote Records

Tags

Comments


PREVIOUS / NEXT




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.

More

Tramonto
John Taylor
Ki
Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii
Duality Pt: 02
Dom Franks' Strayhorn
The Sound of Raspberry
Tatsuya Yoshida / Martín Escalante

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.