Dave Leslie: The Brim

This album is another indication of the many forms the basic elements of jazz can be adapted to. Keyboard and accordion player, Dave Leslie, applies jazz principles to a series of tunes based in foreign lands. There are pieces which have rhythms derived from the Balkans, Ireland, Bulgaria, etc. On this international musical escapade, Leslie is joined by musicians who regularly appear on Dave Storrs' Corvallis, Oregon-based Louie label, including the inestimable Mr. Storrs himself on drums and percussion.

To be sure, there are different, maybe even strange, combinations of melodic inventions on some cuts. "In the Now" has what sounds like harmonic forms from China and the Near East played over an unrelenting hip hop rhythmic foundation. Leslie's accordion has fragments of Italy mixed in with sounds from other destinations on the medley of "Linger Awhile"/"Pass". Perhaps the liner notes should have had a match `em quiz with the titles listed in one column and countries/regions listed in the other. Whatever, Leslie is one of the more advanced players of an instrument normally associated with country/folk/mood music. This is not Art Van Damme playing the hand-held squeeze box, but a true virtuoso with chops matched only by the likes of a Cidinho Teixeira.

Serious music isn't the only kind to be found on this disc. The players clearly are having some fun with "Lucky Fella". There's plenty of bop on "Seattle Plus 35" and a romantic interlude with "Fall 92". Despite the obvious talent and determination of the performers and the winsomeness of the compositions, I found after a while that the ideas began to wear thin and that if you are not a modern jazz accordion devotee, matters begin to wear quite thin.