Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Lou Grassi's Po Band: Mo' Po

150

Lou Grassi's Po Band: Mo' Po

By

View read count
Lou Grassi's Po Band: Mo' Po
Grassi’s star is on the rise. As one of the most frequently recorded drummers for CIMP he’s found a nurturing avenue to communicate his abundant abilities. Listeners attuned to this handful of releases have been met by a mature musician whose only limits on his music are the number of hours in the day that he can devote to his craft. This disc is several years old and in the interim since it’s release Grassi has taken part in a variety of new projects both as a leader and sideman, all which are worth seeking out. The Po’ Band is one of his most exciting assemblages and though it is only comprised of five men these five generate the dynamic range of a group twice their number.

The disc is divided into three lengthy pieces which balance structured play with collective improvisation and two shorter arrangements, one of which is a duet between Morris and Grassi. Articulated into three distinct parts the interlocking composition allows each of the players plenty of individual latitude to shape the music’s direction. A pervading sense of mutual participation colors the deep listening favored by the group and results in a wealth of intricately conceived ideas. Grassi’s fluid drums and Morris’ pulsing strings forge the propulsive energy that powers the horns into their numerous flights of spontaneous fancy.

“We Too,” a duet piece that is both brief and quiet, features some incredible pizzicato work by Morris that parallels the sound of pattering rain on pane glass. On “Air Play” the players converse in a muted vernacular of microtonal whistles and squeaks. Later in the piece the quintet subdivides into component parts and offers a wide array of instrumental combinations. “Train Ride” is the longest excursion and demonstrates the group’s passion for juxtaposing quiet and clamor. Morris and Grassi open the piece in hushed, but bristling interplay before the horn’s eventual arrival in a scurry of muted slurs and smears. Robinson’s place as the only reed makes him an integral part of the proceedings. His adroit breathing and fingering conjure a myriad of tonal possibilities from the clarinet that combine with the brass in provocative collusion. All of the pieces on the disc require some patience on the part of the listener when in comes to unraveling their mysteries and are definitely not for casual listening. Grassi’s confidence in demanding the same level of concentration from his audience as he himself applies to the creation of his music speaks again to his stature as a serious artist.

Track Listing

Mo

Personnel

Lou Grassi- drums, percussion; Perry Robinson- clarinet, ocarina; Herb Robertson- cornet, trumpet; Steve Swell- trombone; Wilbur Morris- bass.

Album information

Title: Mo' Po | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: CIMP Records

Tags

Comments


PREVIOUS / NEXT



Lou Grassi 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.

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.