Palmetto Records
2004
L'histoire Du Clochard
About This Album
Bassist Steve Swallow is better known as a sideman than a leader, though his work as a composer may be his greatest hidden asset. Long acknowledged as one of the top electric bassists in jazz, a number of his pieces have been recorded with collaborators such as Gary Burton and Carla Bley. But this sextet, jointly led with tenor saxophonist Ohad Talmor, finds new possibilities within these songs, none of which have been widely recorded. The chamber jazz sextet assembled also includes trumpeter Russ Johnson, violinist Meg Okura, clarinetist Greg Tardy and trombonist Jacob Garchick; throughout the session, the musicians rise to the challenges of the demanding charts. Talmor's arrangements are playful and full of the spirit of adventure. "Making Ends Meet" serves as a graceful introduction, though it quickly grows complex, with a particularly spirited solo by Tardy. Talmor hints at Igor Stravinsky's introduction to The Rites of Spring in his opening solo to the haunting "Sweeping Up," with Swallow exploring the upper range of his instrument. Garchick comes to the forefront in the intricate scoring of "Chelsea Bells." The low-key arrangement of "Some Echoes" creates a bittersweet, somewhat mournful mood.
Track List (try track 5)

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