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CD/LP/Track Review
Allison Miller: Boom Tic Boom (2010)
Mark Corroto
Mark misses his large dog Louie, but endeavors daily to find and listen to new and interesting sounds.
Just say yes to records led by drummers. Why? Because drummers may rarely be the leaders or composers, but they're always the soul of any good recording. Where's John Coltrane
John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
saxophone
without Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones
1927 - 2004
drums
, or Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
b.1945
piano
without Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette
b.1942
drums
? Nowhere. That's why, when a session is commanded by a percussionist, as is Boom Tic Boom by drummer Allison Miller, there is reason to revel.
Miller has held the drum chair for jazz artists such as Marty Ehrlich
Marty Ehrlich
b.1955
reeds
, Steven Bernstein
Steven Bernstein
trumpet
, George Garzone
George Garzone
b.1950
sax, tenor
, Rachel Z.
Rachel Z.
, to pop and folk stars Natalie Merchant and Ani DiFranco. She co-leads several bands: "emma" with singer/songwriter Erin McKeown, TILT with pianist Taylor Eigsti
Taylor Eigsti
piano
, and Agrazing Maze with trumpeter Ingrid Jensen
Ingrid Jensen
b.1966
trumpet
. Miller's ability to embrace multiple formats of music, making them relevant to the immediate situation she finds herself in, is the key to her success.
This disc, her second as leader, follows 5am Stroll (Foxhaven, 2004) and is a piano/bass/drums trio session, except for one track, "CFS (Candy Flavored Sidewalks)," with violinist Jenny Scheinman
Jenny Scheinman
violin
. While Miller leads this session, there is plenty room for pianist Myra Melford
Myra Melford
b.1957
piano
, who composed two tracks heard here and Miller's musical soulmate, bassist Victor Wooten
Victor Wooten
bass
.
Half of the pieces here are composed by Miller, starting with the opener "Cheyenne." This track begins with Miller delivering a thunderously muscular Tony Williams
Tony Williams
1945 - 1997
drums
-inspired solo before Melford delivers a bell-ringing volley of sound. The trio delivers invigoratingly crisp music throughout. Whether they are dropping the funky pulse of "Big Lovely" or shy swing exhibited on Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagy Carmichael
1899 - 1981
piano
's "Rockin' Chair," the trio glides with a sense of exuberance that is rare in the "professionalism" of music today. Other covers include Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams
1910 - 1981
piano
' slick-groove "Intermission," and the set features two tracks by Melford, the angular and disciplined "Be Melting Snow" and the reflective "Night." Jenny Scheinman joins the trio for "CFS," a piece of Americana folk/jazz that leaps off the disc with dance in mind.
Track Listing: Cheyenne; Fead; Intermission; Rockin' Chair; Be Melting Snow; CFS (Candy Flavored Sidewalks); Big Lovely; Night.
Personnel: Myra Melford: piano; Todd Sickafoose; bass; Allison Miller: drums; Jenny Scheinman: violin (6).
Record Label: Foxhaven Records
Style: Modern Jazz
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