Search - Thomas Chapin :: Haywire

Chapin with strings.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 11/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thomas Chapin burned brightest in the last few years before his death-- after the success of studio efforts "Menagerie Dreams" and "You Don't Know Me", Chapin's next album was the live "Haywire", featuring his working trio-- Chapin heard on alto, mezzo-soprano and baritone sax and flute, Mario Pavone on bass, and Michael Sarin on drums augmented by a string trio-- Mark Feldman (Masada String Trio) on violin, Boris Rayskin on cello, and Kyoto Fujiwara on bass. The resulting album is fantastic-- the strings augment, provide their own voice, and never get in the way. To top it off, Chapin is on fire throughout.



The majority of the album is given over to a loosely knit suite called "The Devil's Hopyard". By and large covering darker moods, it provides an opportunity for the strings to work in a chamber-like setting while letting Chapin really shine-- he solos fiercely on baritone ("Bump in the Night"), flute ("Hoofin'") and alto (the other parts) while the strings add an odd sort of chamber elegance to the preceedings. "Hoofin'" is of particular note, featuring an irregular drum beat and some downright fantastic soloing, first from Feldman then from Chapin.



The remaining tracks find the band in quite a few different moods-- the boppish "Haywire" features just superb soloing from Feldman, an unnervingly inventive Chapin on alto and a stunningly tasteful Sarin. "Diva" finds Chapin bleak and meditative on mezzo-soprano sax and takes one of the most delicate and well formed solos of his career backed by pizzicato strings. "Geek Gawkin'", feeling like an encore to close the album, faetures Chapin on baritone and some particularly noteworthy ensemble performances.



Bottom line, this is a downright fantastic record, well worth investigation. Highly recommended."

Living Music

D. Peterson | Orem, Utah United States | 09/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The late Thomas Chapin was arguably one of the finest jazz musicians of his day and this album is enough to prove it. Though it lacks the telepathic interplay his trio normally had, the addition of 5 string players gave Chapin a chance to show his impressive writing abilities in new and varied ways. Whether it's his gorgeous mezzo-soprano sax work on trumpeter Enrico Rava's "Diva," or his ecstatic flute on "Hoofin'," or violinist Mark Feldman's free bop solo on "Bugbears," this album is at the very least interesting from beginning to end and is frequently superb."