Steve Tibbetts - Big Map Idea (ECM, 1989)

This post is by Dan

Steve Tibbetts (guitars, dobro, kalimba, pianolin, tapes); Marc Anderson (congas, steel dr, perc, berimbau); Marcus Wise (tabla); Michelle Kinney (cello)

Recorded 1987-1988

Steve Tibbetts is a unique artist. Were it not for his "discovery" by ECM's Manfred Eicher in the 1980s, he might never have made a ripple in the vast ocean of jazz music. His self-released debut recording, Steve Tibbetts, was rarely heard outside of his hometown of Minneapolis. The follow up, Yr, was the only release on the Frammis label and attributed to Steve Tibbtz. Somehow, ECM acquired the rights to reissue Yr in 1988. Since then, Tibbetts has recorded eight albums on ECM, including his most recent Life Of (2018). He has also collaborated with Nepalese vocalist Chöying Drolma on other labels. I have not heard those records.

Most of his ECM output follows a similar approach. Paired with Marc Anderson and occasional other players, Tibbetts concocts a collage of sounds from a wide array of instruments and tape effects. There is no simple way to distinguish the original sources of the sounds, which are mixed and processed over time before a release is finalized. Guitars and various percussion dominate, although there are no solos per se and no obvious chord changes or melodies. I'm tempted to label his work as "ambient" except that it's much more interesting than the typical wash of synthesized music that passes as ambient. 

Big Map Idea lists four players and 12 instruments, although the instruments named "tapes," "guitars" and "percussion" are expandable categories. All compositions are by the band except for Jimmy Page's "Black Mountain Side," which first appeared on Led Zeppelin's debut album. Including it does not make Big Map Idea a rock album by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, Led Zeppelin's version sounds more like classic Steve Tibbetts, complete with acoustic guitar and tablas.  

My best advice when approaching Tibbetts' music is to sit back and enjoy the sonic bath. It might very well transport you to places you've never been within the world of jazz. 

Tibbetts' other releases on ECM are on the same plane as Big Map Idea. They are listed below. Given the lengthy production process for Tibbetts, the release dates are unlikely to match the recording dates. It doesn't matter.

Yr, 1980

Northern Song, 1981

Safe Journey, 1983

Exploded View, 1986

The Fall of Us All, 1994

A Man About a Horse, 2002

Natural Causes, 2008

Life Of, 2018