Search - Michael Formanek :: Nature of the Beast

Solid compositions, excellent performances.

Douglas T Martin | Alpharetta, GA USA | 01/10/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For this recording bassist/improvisor Michael Formanek assembles a core quartet of himself, Dave Douglas (trumpet), Steve Swell (trombone), and hyperkinetic drummer Jim Black. Like all of Formanek's compositions, the ones on this recording are complex, though not too much to be enjoyable. The prominent voice of Dave Douglas stands out on nearly every track; the tracks "Excruciation" and "El Nino" (with Tony Malaby on tenor sax) sound almost like the Miles Davis Quintet in a very experimental mood. Formanek provides a powerful solo bass intro to "Grand Bizarre", a composition that would fit nicely in John Zorn's Masada songbook. Dave Douglas and Jim Black spar with each other in the intro to "Lickin' Center". Formanek's bandmates from Bloodcount, Tim Berne and Chris Speed, join the entire ensemble for "Thick Skin/Dangerous Crustaceans" - a composition that compares with Tim Berne's works. Despite my comparisons to other artists, Michael Formanek has his own compositional voice, previously expressed on recordings like "Low Profile" and "Loose Cannon".Recommended to fans of Tim Berne, Dave Douglas, Chris Speed, and related musicians.Michael Formanek: bass; Dave Douglas: trumpet; Steve Swell: trombone; Jim Black: drums; Tony Malaby: tenor sax; Tim Berne: alto & baritone sax; Chris Speed: clarinet"