Trilogy
Bassists, as a rule, aren't always the most ambitious of musicians, which makes this series of recordings by a California sideman an anomaly. Rob Wasserman, whose work in support ofStephane GrappelliandDan Hicksamong others, had earned praise in musician circles, but he found the constraints on his instrument, particularly in a pop context, confining. So he finagled a deal with Rounder Records to assemble 1983'sSolo, a collection of a dozen bowed and plucked originals and one cover ("Lady Be Good") that showcase Wasserman's unfettered instrumental dexterity and creativity. Buoyed by the warm response, Wasserman began building on his concept with 1988'sDuets, enlisting a diverse lot of collaborators spearheaded byAaron Neville,Lou Reed, andRickie Lee Jones.Trioscarried the concept to its conclusion, with the master bassist bringing aboard two partners for each track. A decade afterTrios, Rounder has bundled all three albums in one package. The result, though marred by the occasional misstep (Triosis the spottiest of the three), has aged agreeably. Rounder's package also includes a couple of bonus tracks and old and new liner notes.--Steven Stolder