Ohad Talmor Trio: Mise En Place

The cry was heard, "nobody said there was going to be math involved!" Sorry kids, the music heard on saxophonist Ohad Talmor's Mise En Place is in fact related to the abstract science of number, quantity, and space, and this is an upper level course on the intricate. Seven of the nine compositions were penned by the French-born, raised-in-Switzerland, Israeli saxophonist now living in Brooklyn.

A student of Lee Konitz and both Hindustani and Brazilian musics, he found two sympathetic partners in guitarist Miles Okazaki, an alumni of Steve Coleman and Five Elements, and drummer Dan Weiss, who has a deep knowledge of Indian Classical music. The mathematics are evident in the complex and odd (to Western ears) time signatures of "Kamali," "Shymal Bose Chakradar," and "Rupak Tukra." The trio's adaption of Indian music into an improvisational context demonstrates the the skill of these talented artists, but the music doesn't trade precision for soul.

The music rocks out on "Back Of The Plane" much like Weiss' heavy metal/prog rock band Starebaby does. And, as they say in TV commercials, "wait there's more." Talmor gives us sly encoded "Pairs," delivered as a most enigmatic ballad, complex yet soulful. His tenor saxophone sound is lavish without being pretentious. This is further evidenced by the trio's covers of Coltrane's "Wise One" and "After The Rain." Both compositions are delivered in a reverential and straightforward manner making for a most luxurious sound.