Got My Mental is a satisfying trio date with bassist
John Patitucci and drummer
Jack DeJohnette, and a nice complement to
Let's Call This,
Khan's 1991 trio album with
Ron Carter and
Al Foster. As on the earlier outing,
Khan includes only one original tune, focusing instead on challenging material by eminent post-bop figures.
Wayne Shorter and
Lee Morgan are again represented, but this time in the company of
Keith Jarrett ("Common Mama"),
Eddie Harris ("Sham Time"), and
Ornette Coleman ("R.P.D.D.").
Khan also presents his laid-back take on two standards, "I Have Dreamed" by Rodgers & Hammerstein and "The Last Dance" by
Jimmy Van Heusen and
Khan's father,
Sammy Cahn. Four rotating percussionists --
Don Alias,
Bobby Allende,
Marc Quiñones, and Café -- join the trio intermittently. It's fairly uncommon to hear
Khan in such a straight-ahead setting. His articulation is superb on the tough bop-oriented lines of the
Coleman piece and original title track, although he can become a bit stiff as his solos progress.
Shorter's "Paraphernalia," like "Masqualero" on the previous record, was once played by the
Miles Davis Quintet and is particularly difficult to carry off with a guitar trio. But
Khan doesn't let that stop him. His big, reverby sound and spacious chords create a full spectrum of sound on this and every other tune.