Search - Baikida Carroll :: Marionettes on a High Wire

A Multifaceted Gem

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 11/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The title's kinda weird. Think about it. What does it mean? Puppets on a tightrope? What are they doing up there? Dancing? That's how I think of it. And, strangely, it's perfectly suited to the marvelous music on this disc, which dances through my head, all jingly-jangly, whenever I put it on, and often when I don't.The group, which is Carroll's working band, seems nearly telepathic. The ensemble playing throughout electrifies. Carroll plays the trumpet like no one I know of. He's got chops to burn, which are fabulously on display whenever he solos, but what really strikes me as unique is his tone, which is dark and buttery-slippery, yet somehow perfectly articulated. He gets more warmth from his horn than any trumpeter I've ever heard, yet he's incredible nimble and has perfect timing and pitch. Adegoke Steve Colson on piano is masterful, comping with thick chords, sometimes launching into controled frenzy on his solos, other times playing complex yet compelling single line phrases. Those bass bombs bursting from the speakers come courtesy of the formidable Michael Formanek. Veteran drummer Pheeroan akLaff, who can be overly busy, plays better than I've ever heard him. Erica Lindsay on tenor sax has greatly matured since I last encountered her.The music is all over the map, which is a good thing, in my view. There's a stunningly beautiful ballad (Miss Julie), deconstructed carnival music (the title cut), an engaging waltz (Our Say), a Latin-tinged post-bop number that bubbles along cheerfully (Ebullient Secrets), an out-and-out burner (A Thrill a Minute) that showcases the band's incredible musicianship with Carroll's solo alone worth the price of admission, but everyone really struts their stuff. I don't even generally like this kind of virtuoso number, but there's a lot more going on here than mere speed. Flamboye, a tribute to the late, great Julius Hemphill, is flamboyant, all right, a very extroverted modernist piece with a killer drum solo from Pheeroan. Down Under sounds like it's going five directions at once, all the while making perfect sense.This kind of modern eclectic jazz--hip, worldly wise, yet with an underlying warmth and accessibility--is what many artists strive for but few achieve. In sum, this is one marvelous disc, certainly one of the absolute best of 2001."

Distinguished by great writing and playing

Ian Muldoon | Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia | 08/27/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The distinguishing merit of this fine programme of music is the writing and arranging of the leader and trumpet player Mr Carroll. All the pieces are by Mr Carroll with the opening Ebullient Secrets perhaps the most conventional. With a standard bebop lineup of trumpet, tenor, piano, bass and drums, there is nothing standard about the variety, quality, and depth of this music. I also found that the more you listened to it the better it became. Although a great deal of thought has clearly gone into the arrangements there is plenty of room for the individual expression of the musicians, for example the great bass solo by Mr Formanek on the title track. To get an idea of the variety and beauty of the disc listen to just two tracks: Griot's Last Dance with its beautiful discordant interplay and fine solos by Ms Lindsay and Mr Aklaff and the ballad Ms Julie featuring the muted trumpet of the leader. Needless to say the musicians are at the top of their game and this is clearly a band that has been together for some time. The disc is an instance of fine musicians being given great material to work with. One of my top purchases in the last 12 months."