Original_To:  BITNET%"ALLMUSIC@AUVM"
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.allmusic
Date:         Thu, 16 Apr 1992 07:34:00 CDT
From:         CV01@SWTEXAS.BITNET
Subject:      I got my Power Tools!!

   Mr. Beer has told us over the years that this is *the* heaviest of all
groups, and I must say that I would be hard-pressed to argue with him (and you
know how that pains me, huh Jeff?  ;*)  I found _Strange Meeting_ last
weekend, and it's been getting quite a bit of air time since.  I know I should
probably wait and listen more before I start spouting off about it, but with
all the metal discussion of recent days, I thought it would be fun to throw
this one into the fray.

   This is an amazing trio of Bill Frisell, Ronald Shannon Jackson and Melvin
Gibbs.  The music is hard-hitting to the point where some of it is (dare I say
it?) metal.  That is, some of the guitar-work on this has many of those same
elements that our metalers seem to die for.  Distortion, feedback, shrieking
glissandos, punchy low-end playing, and some things that I wouldn't even try
to describe.

   "Unscientific Americans" could be described as "heavy metal bop", in that
it swings like hard bop, but the the way these guys attack the song is closer
to metal.  "The President's Nap" (this was recorded in 1987, when the actor
was still "in charge") could be described as heavy metal guitar over a shuffle
beat.

   There's some other types of stuff on there too -- including "When We go"
which sounds like a re-worked version (or is it the other way around?) of
"Rambler", which Frisell performed on the recording of the same name.  It's a
haunting piece with almost an island feel -- sort of a "slow calypso", if you
can imagine that.  (Actually, that description is influenced by the fact that
I heard the _Rambler_ interpretation first -- the theme is more fully
developed on that recording.)  "Strange Meeting" is a medium-tempo fusion-like
tune that highlights Frisell in a spacy solo that sounds like he's using a
guitar synth (however, there is no mention of synth being used) for the first
solo.  He then drops back to his more familiar, haunting broken-chord style to
close the song.  This is a song "n.n." should probably hear.  :*)

   They even perform "Unchained Melody", treating us to a couple of bars of
vocal lead-in ("Oh, my love ... my darlin' ... I hunger for your ...), before
RSJ begins what turns into a strange trip with a military march/Dixieland
snare part, before Gibbs joins in for a few bars to further solidify the
backdrop for a fabulous rendition of this moldy oldie.  Gibbs and Frisell take
turns flirting with the melody, while RSJ subtly re-shapes the march rhythm.
Finally, Frisell goes off into a wild improvisation that at times sounds like
a sequenced sitar.  Words don't do it justice -- you need to hear it to
believe it.

   Anyhow, on the whole, Frisell plays "heavier" than I've heard him at any
other time (with the possible exception of some of his stuff with Zorn).  RSJ
is perfection personified (pardon the alliteration) -- his playing is forceful
when it needs to be, and understated when that is appropriate.  Gibbs is ...
well, just Gibbs.  You sometimes don't even notice the guy, then all of a
sudden you realize that he's carrying a constant counterpoint with either RSJ
on the rhythmic side, or with Frisell's spacy soloing.  I can't imagine any
trio that matches these guys for the sheer layers of textures they build.  If
you've heard any of these guys before, and enjoyed their playing, this is a
must-buy.  However, if you like your music with a strong beat on every 1 and
3, well ...


      bye,
      cmv ("also picked up _more news for lulu_ -- another 'power trio', with
            frisell, john zorn on alto and george lewis on trombone ...
            amazing stuff")