Jump Shot by John Adams

29 Nov

Written by Edward Kane
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They say that "Discretion is the better part of valor." Well, as far as I can tell, "They" didn't say it to the drummer Ed Soph, or else he wasn't listening when they did. His hyperactive and insensitive playing sinks this set all but entirely. There are some instances where his bombastic approach is appropriate--he fares OK, for example, on the boppish title cut--but he doesn't seem to know any other way to play.

Of course, Ed Soph is not the name this CD is filed under. John Adams is the person who led the band, played the bass, composed and/or arranged the tunes on this set, and he is therefore ultimately responsible for how it sounds. While his own tunes are inoffensive and his overall playing is passable, his solos are banal and his arranging skills are seriously lacking. Maybe I'm missing something, but "Darn That Dream" just doesn't work for me as an uptempo number.

On the positive side, there is some good playing here. Pianist Warren Bernhardt plays well despite the mediocre rhythmic backdrop, and all three of the brass players--trumpeter Marvin Stamm and trombonists Greg Waits and Chris Seiter--have their moments. But it's hard to overcome bad drumming, and the other musicians prove incapable of doing so here.