Dom Minasi: Takin' The Duke Out

A Postmodern treatment of Ellington.

If the central premise Postmodern Deconstructionism can be defined that all literary (and other) criticism is entirely subjective— that all texts are relative to one's personal interpretation and experience, then Takin' the Duke Out is a Postmodern monument. In this case, renowned free jazz guitarist Dom Minasi takes the music of Duke Ellington shines it through his [Minasi's] terministic screen, producing some very interesting and exciting guitar-trio recital pieces.

Minasi is certainly not the first artist to transform the music canon. Anthony Braxton did so with his Charlie Parker Project 1993 (Hat ART 6160, 1993) and Pussy Galore did it in rock music with their take on the Rolling Stones's Exile on Main Street : PG —Exiles on Main Street (NLP, 1986). Minasi adds to these great reconsiderations with one of his own. Takin' the Duke Out very thoughtfully and skillfully deconstructs the Ellington Canon, sparing no song. "Satin Doll" is redefined in whole tones. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" is played languidly on the guitar while the rhythm section is in triple time. Totally transformed is "Take The A Train" with Ken Filiano playing the melody arco while Minasi provides a percussive effect with his guitar.

Minasi provides a very dense sound, very wall-of-sound like. The performance is recorded closely and the listener will feel as if they are having a cocktail at the Knitting Factory. This disc is an interesting rethinking of America's Jazz icon.