Garden of Eden

Paul Motian has a lot of history at his fingertips (and feet). Whether one thinks of his work with the Bill Evans Trio of the late-1950s and early-1960s, the Keith Jarrett Quartet of the mid-1970s, or the various groups of his own which Motian has led since then (featuring such distinctive players as guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Joe Lovano) the drummer has long been one of the most resourceful - and sought-after - musicians of contemporary jazz. His current seven-piece band features the unusual instrumentation of long-time Sonny Rollins bassist Jerome Harris, saxophonists Chris Creek and Tony Malaby, and guitarists Steve Cardenas, Ben Monder and Jakob Bro. The result on this, Motian’s latest recording for ECM, is both a raft of fine, uncluttered arrangements and plenty of beautifully attuned solo and group playing. Highlights include some warmly conceived and well-turned looks back at jazz history, as in the opening Mingus classics "Pithecanthropus Erectus" and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", and the concluding "Evidence" and Cheryl" by bebop high priests Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker. The piano-less instrumentation brings a lovely, light and airy quality to these reworkings, a quality much in evidence throughout the remainder of the (largely) original material. The bulk of this is by Motian, whose trademark rhythmic displacements and essentially poetic approach to matters of texture, accent and dynamics consistently enliven the engagingly reflective and spaciously unfolding material. --Michael Tucker

1. Pithecanthropus
2. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
3. Etude
4. Mesmer
5. Mumbo Jumbo
6. Desert Dream
7. Balata
8. Bill
9. Endless
10. Prelude 2 Narcissus
11. Garden Of Eden
12. Manhattan Melodrama
13. Evidence
14. Cheryl