World Is Not Your Home, The

DAVID ROGERS SEXTET: The World Is Not Your Home
Jumbie, 2007

This spirited set, originally recorded a decade ago, draws heavily on the melodic and rhythmic traditions of Ghana and Cuba. Saxophonist Rogers and his Detroit-based crew alternate slippery, progressive jazz themes and sharp improvisation with extended jaunts through exotically folksy grooves. Good stuff.

Fo’s Picks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

1. 13:05 – folksy clarinet intro, African drums, then low-down modern jazz. Jabbing piano solo, sax goes from casual to insistent, relaxed bass.
2. 04:55 – scrambling, clowning: Perky sax, propulsive bass, tumbling drums
3. 11:20 – calm sax intro, then African melody with 2 gyil xylophones just going nuts and happy sax riding on top. Lots of fun.
4. 07:40 – oddball, sneaky theme jumps back & forth between horns & bass; chugging piano solo, light-hearted sax gets skronky near end.
5. 07:25 – dark & turbulent: chorale melody rises from the bass over scattery drums; clarinet, vibes, gruff sax; peters out at the end
6. 11:40 – three-part medley of Afro-Cuban themes with an edge. Good percussion, some interesting improv based on the melodies.

[ Fo ] 4-Aug-07