Search - Steve Swallow :: Damaged in Transit

A least-favorite jazz format, the sax/bass/drums trio, . . .

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 12/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

". . . here acquits itself admirably, and earns a full 5 stars. (I originally pegged them at 4 and 1/2, then 4 and 3/4. A final listen jacked them to the top--and beyond.) A good deal of its success comes because these are special players who've been given special music to play. Chris Potter, fast emerging as perhaps the most significant sax voice of his generation, here plays with a maturity of conception and tone that belies his years. Long a prodigy, he puts aside any questions of callowness and hits at least an inside the park home run. His tenor sax timbre has grown richer and more evocative over the past few years. Here he declaims with fluid authority ("Item 1, D.I.T.") or whispers with intimate conviction ("Item 3, D.I.T.").Adam Nussbaum in the drum chair seems far too underrecorded. On this outing, he shows himself to be a master colorist as well as displaying a deft facility at world-jazz rhythms. Check him out, esp., on "Item 4, D.I.T."But it's he leader, Steve Swallow, who invented a widely copied but never surpassed style of electric jazz bass, who defines and pushes forward the vibe. Almost any number suffices to show this, but his playing is particularly attractive and memorable on "Item 4, D.I.T." A note about the compositions, all from the pen of Swallow. They contain a lot more significant melodic material, and a greater emotional range, than is common for the jazz power trio format. Ranging from the blues to angular post-bop to classical chamberlike material, they provide constantly shifting moods, melodies, and rhythms.You got me as to how the term "Damaged in Transit" applies to this music. One could wax philosophical and regard it as a metaphor for the human condition: we come from the womb pretty in tact (at least most of do), but as we move along our life's pathway, we become damaged by--what?--imperfect parents, bad teachers, our own perversity--any number of things. When we arrive at our destination, we've been "damaged in transit." This music provides the soundtrack for that journey--or perhaps a glimpse of the folded, bent, and spindled humanity--as it reaches its final resting place. Whatever. Which is just to say that there's a real narrative quality to these proceedings, one that becomes increasingly attractive the closer one attends.Another stellar recording in this year of remarkable jazz."

Excellent Live Performance from Steve Swallow's Trio!!!

Louie Bourland | Garden Grove CA | 06/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Damaged In Transit" finds renowned jazz bassist Steve Swallow in a stripped-down trio setting recorded live in France in 2001.

While the trio format of bass/tenor sax/drums may seem like a daring step, it is actually quite effective here with many of the compositions being extremely melodic and ear-catching.

Besides Swallow's unintruding approach to the electric bass, the other two members of the trio - Tenor saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Adam Nussbaum - have shining moments in the spotlight here as well. Potter in particular is acceptionally brilliant with a style that echoes John Coltrane.

Stylistically, the music ranges from traditional jazz (as heard on "Item 1, D.I.T." and Item 5) to bluesy (Items 2 and 4) to ballads (Items 6 and 7) to near-funk (Item 9).

With this said, "Damaged In Transit" is an amazingly diverse yet wholly cohesive album. The performances here are top notch while the musicianship between Swallow, Potter and Nussbaum is extraordinary.

Definitely Recommended!!!"