Paul Motian - Monk in Motian (JMT/Winter & Winter, 1988)

This post is by Dan

Paul Motian (d); Joe Lovano (ts); Bill Frisell (g); Dewey Redman (ts); Geri Allen (p)

Recorded March 1988

Paul Motian's band with Joe Lovano and Bill Frisell established a unique sound during the 1980s - loose, spare, and floating. They played a whole series of Broadway albums and tributes to Bill Evans and Thelonious Monk. Occasional "guests" augment the trio on several albums, all of which make for fascinating listening. 

Monk in Motian adds Dewey Redman and Geri Allen as members of the augmented trio. Each appears on two tracks. Redman adds a second tenor on "Straight, No Chaser" and "Epistrophy," whereas Allen injects very Monkish piano on "Ruby My Dear" and "Off Minor." Frisell wisely gives Allen more room on "Ruby" by playing more like a horn that a chordal instrument. 

The trio handles the rest of the cuts. They are at their best on the floating, ethereal pieces such as "Crepuscule with Nellie," "Ugly Beauty," and "Reflections." These pieces don't really need to be played straight because the material is so familiar. And no piano is needed when Frisell plays the left hand and Lovano the right, as on "Bye-Ya." For his part, Motian is a consistently inventive percussionist who eschews the time-keeping role in favor of painting soundscapes behind Lovano and Frisell. Lovano typically lays out while Frisell is soloing, which provides the best opportunity to hear Motian's crafty accompaniment. 

Motian died in 2011 at age 80 following a full career that began in 1957 in Bill Evans' trio. Both Frisell and Lovano are currently among the most active recording artists in jazz.