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THE DOM MINASI TRIO
Goin' Out Again (CDM)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson
Dom Minasi is a guitarist who was riding the fence between avant-garde and hard bop back in the mid-70s, and then he just stopped recording, at least as a leader, only to show up again around 2000. Now, it seems, Mr. Minasi isn't conflicted. As the title of his third album since his comeback implies, he's found his true calling is outside the lines.
Goin' Out Again contains 8 tracks: four classic jazz tunes, deconstructed, the loose atoms smashed before reconstruction, and then four originals. The album reunites Minasi with his cohorts from the previous album, Taking The Duke Out. Bassist Ken Filiano creates an immense blanket of sounds using a bow and displays intricate, percussive fingering as well. It's about time for this guy to start appearing on favorites lists and getting the recognition he deserves. Drummer Jackson Krall proves himself an extremely cerebral drummer, often holding back in passages where you expect full-on drums and he always turns out to be right. He makes it all work perfectly with a light touch and impeccable timing.
Minasi himself is a very generous leader, letting his cohorts shine brightly and often, especially Filiano. When it's time for Minasi to get busy, though, he's got a lot of tools at his disposal. A guitarist with considerable skills, he isn't afraid to change tones in mid-song, figuring the conventions are broken anyway so why sweat it. He's something of a speed demon, though he maintains taste even at 200 mph. When he slows it down, as he does when he returns briefly to more traditional jazz modes and plays melodic chord progressions, it's clear he's still got the old chops as well as the ability to go outside at full steam.
This is an interesting configuration for an avant-garde jazz group. No horns, no pianos. It's guitar, bass and drums, the standard formula for rock and roll. But there's no rock and roll here. This is wonderful out-there jazz, taking the classics "All Blue," "On Green Dolphin Street," "Well You Needn't" and "Autumn Leaves" to places they've never been. I highly recommend this to everyone into avant-garde, since you are adventurous listeners looking for new sounds, and this is going to be different from the other discs in your collection.
© 2003 - DJ Johnson