Actionspeak

This is the debut album as a leader by drummer and composer Tomas Fujiwara. His quintet includes trumpet, tenor sax, bass, and the terrific Mary Halvorson on electric guitar. They’ve been getting some nice notices on jazz sites & in the NY Times. The playing here is strong, and the music is interesting and entertaining throughout.

Play anything; it’s all good. Try 1 & 3 if you like experimental; 4 & 7 for a jazz-rock challenge; 5 for pretty; 6 for something more traditionally “jazzy.” No FCC issues.

1. ** Dissonant guitar starts things over mainstream bass and drums. The tenor sax and trumpet enter in chorus. Everyone gets along nicely, playing some crazy sounds. It all ends when the sax asks a question. Awesome. (9:02)
2. Starts up-tempo & swinging, but at 3:40 it slows way down for a melancholy (and not entirely successful) guitar solo, then there's a similar trumpet solo. It ends in a sad, downer mood. (6:10)
3. The tenor starts things alone, looking for something. A bowed bass answers. They go looking together, but can’t find a melody. The trumpet tries to lead, cautiously at first; he builds up his courage as he goes. We never get out of the wilderness, and the sax resignedly ends it. (9:14)
4. Trumpet opens this one slowly. It gradually grows both in volume and tempo, into a free-jazz fest. Everybody does their own thing. Mary channels Zappa. It all works out. (4:54)
5. The only real ballad. Tenor opens with a pretty melody; trumpet replies. Repeat. Repeat. Build carefully. Tomas plays very softly with brushes. The guitar stays in the rhythm section for this one. Lovely. (7:41)
6. * Up-tempo and syncopated. Trumpet & sax state a theme in unison. Guitar shows off a bit. Trumpet emerges as the leader. (4:52)
7. ** We hear the bass and then a slow theme stated on trumpet. At 1:04, Mary takes charge and puts on a fusion guitar clinic. Wow! (6:25)