His most ambitious--and fully realized--project to date
Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 11/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"James Carney is one of those modern jazzers that, seemingly, has fallen through the cracks. With several entirely creditable sessions under his belt, one would think he'd be working his way toward the top of the jazz ladder.
And maybe he is. I certainly hope so. Lord knows, he deserves it.
Operating in territory similar to Josh Roseman (Treats of the Night Walker), Ralph Alessi (and his band, This Against That), and Joel Harrison (Harbor), Carney's latest disc, Green-Wood, casually tops them all. Not surprising that he evokes a vibe closely related to Roseman's and Alessi's--after all, he's got both on board for this dramatic outing.
What we've got here is postmodern jazz that goes for the jugular. No pussy-footing around. No backing off. No "Excuse me, I'm playing music you may not dig." This is just deal with it stuff, albeit of the highest order and surprisingly accessible, to boot.
Deftly deploying electric and acoustic piano and analog synth, Carney conjures a thoroughly modern sensibility--edgy, jaggedly rhythmic, eclectic, yet entirely aurally pleasing. Besides Roseman (trombone) and Alessi (trumpet), he's enlisted some of the finest NY downtown players, Peter Epstein (soprano sax) and Tony Malaby (tenor sax). Add up-and-coming Chris Lightcap (bass) and the remarkable Mark Ferber (drums) and you've got one of the most astounding, flexible, and just sheerly powerhouse bands on the planet.
Two numbers, "Power" and "Shame," stand out for pure audacity and over-the-topness beyond the call of duty, but there's not a clunker in the bunch. Whether navigating slickly modernist territory in an entirely beguiling fashion ("Williwaw"), cruising the borders of sick jazz-blues ("In Lieu of Crossroads"), or slyly declaiming thoroughly postmodern sensibilities ("The Poetry Wall"), Carney cleverly avoids all inherent pitfalls and consistently brings home the grand prize.
Music that is both audacious and entirely listenable--a very rare combination. Ignore at your peril."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1