Jason Stein Quartet: The Story This Time (2011)

Nic Jones

CD/DVD Reviewer since 2002

Nic gets a positive sense of wonder from the most worthwhile music.

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Published: December 21, 2011

Jason Stein Quartet: The Story This Time

The two horns, bass and drums quartet is becoming a commonplace grouping even though it hasn't quite reached the saturation point of the piano-bass-drums trio. A consequence of this instrumentation is the obvious decline in novelty value and, indeed, the ability to catch the ear, but this is a leader and group only too aware of that, which explains why this is such a fresh body of music. Jason Stein also plays the bass clarinet exclusively, which in a sense pays tribute to Eric Dolphy Eric Dolphy
1928 - 1964
reeds 's work almost half a century after his death, which isn't to suggest that Stein owes Dolphy a debt, however; he is as much his own man as Rudi Mahall Rudi Mahall
, another present-day member of the bass clarinet league.

In opening with Warne Marsh Warne Marsh
1927 - 1987
sax, tenor 's "Background Music" Stein serves notice of his knowledge, too. The combination of his horn and Keefe Jackson Keefe Jackson

saxophone 's tenor sax results in a fractious line of sonorous distinction. The leader is busy in his solo while Jackson alludes to the song's composer in a pleasingly unanticipated way.

The inclusion of compositions by both Lee Konitz Lee Konitz
b.1927
sax, alto and Lennie Tristano Lennie Tristano
1919 - 1978
piano suggests some stylistic allegiance, but the former's "Palo Alto" receives a treatment which by turns takes in the abstract and the composed. Again Stein and Jackson come up with new colors simply through playing the head together, while bassist Joshua Abrams and drummer Frank Rosaly Frank Rosaly
b.1974
drums prove themselves exponents of the kind of constructive interventionism of which Tristano would have thoroughly disapproved.

Stein's "Hoke's Dream" has faint echoes of the kind of thing John Carter John Carter
b.1929 was putting down on paper in his later years, but still the music is impregnated with a most welcome strain of individuality . It shows both what a highly creative unit this band is now and its undeniable promise for the future.

Track Listing: Background Music; Laced Case; Little Big Horse; Skippy; Badlands; Palo Alto; Hatoolie; Gallop's Gallop; Hoke's Dream; Work; Lennie Bird.

Personnel: Jason Stein: bass clarinet; Keefe Jackson: tenor sax, contrabass clarinet; Joshua Abrams: bass; Frank Rosaly: drums.

Record Label: Delmark Records