Ron Kadish: Tales From Under

As a journeyman bassist, Ron Kadish has traveled the long road, while always returning to his home base of Bloomington, Indiana, where he settled in 1993. As a local educator and active musician, he has steadily built up his performance resume and compositional dossier, which come to light in Tales From Under . His many collaborations and affiliations with a myriad of artists has given him a unique perspective, and this record is a glimpse at his world.

Going right away into the soul jazz bag, "Tutto Boogaloo," is an upbeat groove with an assertive arrangement that allows all players in the horn section an opportunity to exercise their individual chops. Kadish displays some polished bowing artistry on "A Rose For Viola," a swaying Latin influenced number, composed for his daughter. The lyrics were added by vocalist Janiece Jaffe, who also does the weaving interludes with Kadish as they experiment with bass and vocal nuances.

Having had ample exposure to the intricacies of world music, "The Edge Of Calm," exposes a middle-eastern slant to the vibes of Robert Stright, who complements the mysterious oud played by Victor Santora, for an exotic timbre variance on cosmic jazz. Stright returns on vibes with "Groovi Sandi," an extended, well-thought melody that features fine sax work by Nate Johnson, who also shines on the flowing "Light For The Lost." Trumpeter Pat Harbison is brought in on "The Fun Never Stops," which is structured around a vintage charleston or lindy hop style tempo, for an unusual twist, with wonderful results.

The eerie bowing on "The Dream Of The Double Bass," has the intention of depicting complexities of the mind as it goes into altered states of awareness. With the ingenuity offered by studio technology, Kadish does layered bass duty on "Skunitological Conclusions," a free form 5/4 blues jam that concludes the set.

With an ingenious blend of cosmopolitan jazz, classical and old world flavorings, Kadish embarks upon a musical excursion that invites the audience to join in the exploration. He is obviously very democratic with his accompanists, who appear to relish the space given for personal interpretations, adding the essential element of camaraderie to this project. Already well known in Bloomington, Indiana, it's time the world heard more from Ron Kadish.