This post is by Dan
Recorded April 6-8. 1989
Segments is another entry for this brilliant trio, this time with Geri Allen as the nominal leader. Actually, leadership is not the issue for these players. Their mutual understanding is so complete that it's mostly a leaderless group.
The program is interesting: two ballads, two Charlie Parker tunes, one Ornette Coleman composition, and four from within the group. Allen plays the Parker tunes ("Segment" and "Marmaduke") the same way she plays Herbie Nichols - buoyantly. The ballads are little gems caressed by the trio. Charlie Haden takes a number of solos, leading off on "Law Years," the Coleman classic. Paul Motian shows off his brushwork on his solo spot on "I'm All Smiles" and provides supportive patterns of sound elsewhere.
My favorite track is Haden's "La Pasionaria," also performed by the Liberation Music Orchestra on The Ballad of the Fallen, reviewed earlier. There is a special minute or two following Haden's bass solo where the three players engage gently in collective improvisation before transitioning into an affirming restatement of the gorgeous Spanish-tinged melody. It's jazz at its best - spontaneous, full of small details, and fraught with emotion.
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