Michael Brecker introduced a couple of new wrinkles to his sound on his sixth album, in the form of two new sidemen.
Larry Goldings' organ makes for an unusual quartet -- also including
Brecker on tenor sax, frequent guest
Pat Metheny on guitar, and one of three different drummers -- in that there is no bass. As a result,
Metheny often fills in that role when he isn' t soloing.
Goldings' touch is light, in contrast to the more intense playing of
Brecker and
Metheny. But it is the second new sideman who makes a difference:
Elvin Jones guests on drums on three tracks.
Brecker had never shied away from announcing his influences, and with
Jones behind the traps, especially on the opening track, "Arc of the Pendulum," and the closer, "Outrance" (both
Brecker originals), he indulges his affection for
John Coltrane, playing freely and aggressively across the rhythm.
Jones, who gets a showcase solo in "Outrance," is unmistakable, and his support often makes
Brecker sound like
Coltrane. With
Bill Stewart behind the drums, the group performs "Renaissance Man," a tribute to another major
Brecker influence,
Eddie Harris, and
Brecker unabashedly recalls
Harris there. The tunes, five by
Brecker, two by
Metheny, and one each by
Goldings and producer
George Whitty, are loosely structured and run from six to ten minutes each, so that the disc runs 70 minutes. Clearly, they could have gone longer: Several of them fade out, sometimes during a
Brecker or
Metheny solo, an oddity on a jazz album. ~ William Ruhlmann