Totem Blues by Mario Pavone Octet

13 Mar

Written by Lee Prosser
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While the previous album by bassist/composer Mario Pavone, Remembering Thomas, was a conscious tribute to the late saxophonist/composer/band-mate Thomas Chapin, his latest is a tribute as well, though nine of the disc's 10 tunes are Pavone originals. Totem Blues is very much in the "tradition" of Chapin's music - a heartfelt combination of swinging hard bop and avant/free jazz, mindful of the foundations of jazz and improvised music but never limited by them, both forward-looking and accessible.

Many of the pieces here - "Bass Song," "Sequence, " to name two - recall primo early 60s Charles Mingus: rousing, rowdy-but-not-sloppy ensemble playing that's full of likeably abrupt twists n' turns; tart, energized free-bop solos that are often rich with blues feeling; sardonic, mischievously ominous themes; raunchy, vocally-inflected trombone playing; hearty swing. All the players get to shine without going overboard (something else in common w/ Mingus) - Peter Madsen is luminously lyrical (as usual) and the reed-fellows sound as if anointed by Rahsaan Roland Kirk (and the clarinets of Mike DiRubbo and George Sovak is a novel component).

While not a landmark release, Totem Blues is a solid listen than manages to be rough-edged and amiable, like a good whiskey that goes down smooth but has a real kick to it.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Mario Pavone Octet
CD Title: Totem Blues
Genre: Free Jazz / Avante Garde
Year Released: 2001
Record Label: Knitting Factory
Musicians: Pavone: bass; Art Baron, Peter McEachern: trombone; Mike DiRubbo, George Sovak, Jimmy Greene: reeds; Matt Wilson: drums; Peter Madsen: piano.
Label Website: http://www.knittingfactory.com
Rating: Five Stars