Search - Paul Motian :: Tribute

Dark, moody and mind-altering

The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 05/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Tribute" is dark, moody and mind-altering. I have found ECM's discs from the 1970's to be either hit or miss, and I am happy to write that this 1974 album is definitely a hit. As if conjuring dark forces, the intense and shadowy 'Victoria' smolders with Carlos Ward's sax. The upbeat 'Tuesday Ends Saturday' features smokin' electric guitar playing and Paul Motian's best work on the traps. Perhaps the strongest track, it foreshadows Motain's future relationship with Bill Frisell. A mellow vibe permeates the remainder of the album as the last three songs are played in a slow tempo. It is on these songs that Charlie Haden steps out on bass. While 'War Orphans' and 'Sod House' are both laid-back and dreamy, 'War Orpans' suggests nostalgia and sentimentalism. The Charlie Haden composition 'Song for Che' simply features double bass, acoustic guitar and atmospheric percussion. Overall, Paul Metzke and Sam Brown make worthy contributions on electric and acoustic guitars. "Tribute" is a minor keyed journey through a fusion experience best suited for those special moments around one o'clock in the morning."

The best album of all time

Daniel Volovets | Minneapolis, MN | 02/05/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lofty statement? Maybe. But the music on this album is truly unique. I found this album looking for "noir jazz", which doesn't seem to officially exist, and the first track fit the bill perfectly. I have yet to find a similar sounding composition... it is beautiful, a smoldering and dark vignette with unbelievably heartfelt playing by all involved. The second, "Tuesday Ends Saturday", is also noir in its mood but fast-paced (almost an oxymoron?)... all of Motian's compositions on this album have this sensibility -- "Tribute" is the soundtrack for a non-existent film noir.



As a guitarist, I've always had difficulty appreciating instruments like drums and bass simply because I didn't know what was involved in playing them competently... this album changed that. Motian's drumming and Haden's bass playing are incredible. Sam Brown and Paul Metze on acoustic and electric guitars, respectively, are a huge part of the proceedings... and Carlos Ward's sax, well, "Victoria" and "Sod House" wouldn't be the same without it. To the reviewer who said that the music "would not have suffered without his presence"... what?!



What I find incredibly disappointing is that this is the only album of its kind in Motian's oeuvre. Or, actually, the only album of its kind PERIOD. This is original, introspective jazz at its finest. It's a bit expensive on Amazon as of this writing (and back-ordered, I believe), but a downloadable version is available from Amazon MP3 for less than $5. It is a steal at that price... or at any price."