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Wallace Roney: No Room for Argument
ByThere’s a strong improvisational rapport on these tracks, all of which are by Roney except the straight-ahead ballad "Christina," by Buster Williams. But Roney’s forays into electronica, most evidently on the opening title track, don’t add up to much. Voiceover samples from civil rights figures (and Deepak Chopra[?!]) are laced through this and "Straight No Nothing," but they come across more as sonic filler than substantial content. Aside from "NeuBeings," which paints a compelling picture over the course of its 10 minutes, much of the rest of the album sounds like a pastiche of Miles Davis references. It starts with "Homage & Acknowledgement," a fairly interesting superimposition of "Filles De Kilimanjaro" over the bass line of "A Love Supreme." But "Metropolis" almost literally could have been on Nefertiti or The Sorceror, "Cygroove" on Bitches Brew. The closing 3/4 ballad "Midnight Blue" is good, and rather more original. But after the monotony of "He Who Knows" and "Virtual Chocolate Cherry," it’s not enough to make the album a surefire winner.
Despite his considerable chops and his superb band, Roney still can’t escape his tendency toward Miles mimicry, and this stunts the creative thrust of the album overall.
Track Listing
No Room For Argument; Homage & Acknowledgement (Love Supreme/Filles De Kilimanjaro); Straight No Nothing; Metropolis; Christina; NeuBeings; Cygroove; He Who Knows; Virtual Chocolate Cherry; Midnight Blue
Personnel
Wallace Roney
trumpetWallace Roney
Album information
Title: No Room For Argument | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Concord Music Group
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