Word: haden
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...Haden's contributions to many landmark albums of jazz, most notably those of innovative saxophonist Ornette Coleman in the 1960s, prompted the series of tribute concerts from which these recordings are culled. The eight concerts, given in 1989 in Montreal, featured Haden playing with many prominent musical colleagues. These marked the third and fourth releases; two performances from the series were released a few years ago, and more may be yet to come...
Even with his impressive, ground-breaking body of work, Haden continues to play and innovate, and is widely considered one of the top acoustic bassists in jazz today. Though the Montreal Tapes, with their relatively standard arrangements, do not push the envelope of jazz like Haden's most novel work, they display his solid and adaptable bass style in abundance...
Rubalcaba opens his set with a moderately-placed reading of Gary Peacock's "Vignette," and, when the remainder of the trio kicks in, we get to appreciate Haden's tasteful and supportive, but never cliched, accompaniment style. His use of unison double-stops on the opening cut is particularly striking, and his unerrant intonation and rhythmic sense carry throughout the performance. Unlike some of the younger bassists in jazz today, Haden does not rely upon technically impressive devices such as quadruple-timing or playing at the extreme high registers of his instrument to carry his solos. This...
...Vignette" is tastefully executed, but seems to meander and lose a little steam toward the end of its 11-minute span. The excitement picks up again with Haden's bluesy "Bay City," which leads into the centerpiece of the album, "La Pasionaria." The most extended performance on the album at 14 minutes, it also is the most ambitious in its incorporation of diverse musical idioms. Another Haden original, the mellow "Silence," and an appealing version of Ornette Coleman's "The Blessing" pass before Rubalcaba and company leave the audience with an impressive, incendiary rendition of Miles Davis' "Solar...
...Haden's trio with Geri Allen feels less like a vehicle for showcasing the pianist and more like a veteran, integrated combo--no surprise, since they had played and recorded together well prior to the engagement, unlike the group with Rubalcaba. Allen's set is also evenly divided between the compositions of Allen, Haden and Motian, while Rubalcaba's featured three Haden tunes and three standards...