Jones Jones

Vladimir Chekasin & Vladimir Tarasov
La Grande Sonata
LOFT JAZZ SERIES – OH 020

One of the best known Lithuanian creative musicians, percussionist Vladimir Tarasov, 74, has not only played with everyone from Anthony Braxton to symphony orchestras and composed music for film and theatre, but he’s also a well-known visual artist. He sticks strictly to music on these dates however. La Grande Sonata (and its included DVD) captures a rapturously received live concert from Shenzhen that the percussionist gave with his associate in the former Ganelin trio, saxophonist/keyboardist Vladimir Chekasin. In contrast Just Justice is the first all in-studio album by Jones, a trio (sic) consisting of Tarasov plus saxophonist Larry Ochs of Rova and bassist Mark Dresser, who has worked with as many improvisers as the other two.

An extended three-section improvisation and a brief encore, the Chinese disc blends Tarasov’s ambidextrous pulsations from implements, idiophones and add-ons with the interpolations of vocoder processed and multiplied voices, electric and acoustic piano-like patterns and overblowing and multiphonics echoes from Chekasin’s alto and tenor saxophones, sometimes played in tandem. During the first sequence, keyboard pressure, drum clatters and prolonged reed smears very quickly blend saxophone output and percussion bangs as proper backing for pseudo-honky-tonk piano chording. As the exposition becomes more abstract though, the drummer’s hollow pops and shakes set up a rhythmic shuffle at the same time as pointed split tones and tongue slaps pierce the narrative from both saxes. This narrative, which alternates from Jazz-inflected piano links to shattering electronically amplified reed bites and screeches, also includes those multiple electronically processed voices which scat or shake along with sequence articulation. Tarasov’s brush shuffles joined with gentling keyboard riffs then introduce and sustain a warmer, slower section. But before  “Part 1” ends with the saxophonist’s brassy spetrofluctuation variation on “Reveille”, variations of music box-like timbres from electric piano, boogie-woogie vamps from acoustic keyboard, kettle drum-like pounding and, pinched reed slurs and an electronic-altered vocal rondo are heard.

            Modifications of this strategy plays out on the subsequent tracks which closely follow without breaks. More concentrated, “Part 2”  is characterized by Chekasin rattling inner piano strings as the processed voices hocket between alto-pitched and bass-low wordless commentary. The saxophonist’s detour into R&B styled honking mated with bluesy electric piano vibrations and percussion rat tat tats is cut off with positioned multiphonics before the motif become too elementary, as is a later interlude with yearning vocal sighs. Still the key connection to the concluding sequence is confirmed by irregular reed puffs and accented drum clumps which both pivot to double counterpoint to preserve the adventurous improvisation. Reprising motifs from the preceding sequences, “Part 3”  tantalizes with outright swing from piano runs and drum pitter patter to bring in tongue slapping saxophone flattement and even something resembling a children’s march. The concluding upwards romp that ends with a snarling climax of vocalized yodeling, altissimo reed honks and  drum smashes brings out such prolonged applause from the Chinese audience that a brief coda provides a condensed version of the suite’s rhythmic highlights.

            Two years later inside a San Diego studio, the Jones trio specializes in balanced horizontal hardness. Sul ponticello slices, strident smashes and squeaking slurs aren’t neglected. But all extended techniques are auxiliary to narrative projection of these eight group improvisations. The tuning of each of Dresser’s three basses gives many tracks a different and individual feel as well. For instance the tight, compacted strokes on “Bali Hai Jones” affiliated with patterning drum sweeps and reed flutters and that ends with sul tasto sweeps differs greatly from the swelling linear strokes on “The Further Adventures Of Ms. Microtonal Jones”. Those metronomic pressure emboldens squeaky sopranino saxophone shrilling. And both tones can be easily differentiated from the dark string thumps that join with Tarasov’s thunder sheet shaking on “Jones In The Sonar System”,  with the drummer’s metal hammering then providing a bottom for Ochs’ shrill honking and Dresser’s subsequent pinched high notes.

At the same time Ochs’ mid-range clarion or fragmented upwards textures on sopranino and tenor saxophone are also featured. His grainy resonations on the larger horn plays with squeaks and silences on “Jones Free Jones” with the transformation from split tones to growls properly meeting the bassist’s whistling arco squeaks. Although he doesn’t have to carry as much of the load as he does on the duo disc, Tarasov not only fits ball-and-socket into the other two’s output, but establishes his own expressions. Rim shots and hi-hat expositions blend with Dresser’s spiccato bow  jiggles and Ochs’ split tone squeezes at junctures, while his breezy and uncluttered pitter patter and drum top pops unify Dresser’s reflective low-pitched thrusts and Ochs’ smeared but near-lyrical measured blowing elsewhere.

At home in Vilnius or on the road in Shenzhen or San Diego, Tarasov demonstrates his multi-faceted skills as cooperative soloist and partner, whose percussion agility enhances any situation.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: Sonata: 1. Part 1 25:03 2.  Part 2 24:22 3.  Part 3 13:58 4. Part 4 5:54

Personnel: Sonata: Vladimir Chekasin (alto and tenor saxophones, electric keyboards and voice) and Vladimir Tarasov (drums and percussion)

Track Listing: Justice:  1. Articulating Jones 2. Bali Hai Jones 3. Call Of The Jones 4. Jones In The Sonar System 5. Jones Free Jones 6. RBG Jones 7. The Further Adventures Of Ms. Microtonal Jones 8. And His sisters Called Him Jones

Personnel: Justice: Larry Ochs (tenor and sopranino saxophones); Vladimir Tarasov – drums, percussion; Mark Dresser (3 basses w. McLagan pickups)