Tom Teasley/Dave Ballou

Midway between a free improvisation and an instrumental demonstration record two veteran American musicians go mano o mano during instances of creative partnership, Know for his work with everyone from Mario Pavone to Joe Lovano, trumpet Dave Ballou also has experience playing big band swing and notated works. An innovative percussionist, Tom Teasley has brought his rhythmic expertise to Jazz and World Music situations.

Perhaps designed as more relaxed lunch break from the participations’ serious music gigs, the 11 tracks are most notable for the varied percussion implements Teasley features. Besides the regular kit, he vibrates a frame drum, maracas, tambourines, a conjon, a beatbox, the RAV and does some Carnatic chanting. Also featured is the Vast, described as having more harmonically tuned overtones than hand pans or tongue drums. Meanwhile other idiophone rhythms seem to come from a kalimba, a ratchet, bongos and what sounds like a jerry-rigged set of plastic tubing.

Meanwhile Ballo sticks very close to regular trumpet techniques with an emphasis on linear expression with muted tones, open horn emphasis and grace notes. Only on tracks like “Prayer For The Ancestors” and “Mop Shake And Roll” does he seem to loosen up somewhat. The former showcases plunger tones and half-valve echoes in slow moving response to bell slaps and gearwheel-like stress, while the latter includes high-pitched tongue flutters, shakes and snarls as theme elaboration is defined by steady beats from the drums and maracas.

With detours into Afro-Cuban pacing, almost every track includes a constant groove underpinning, as well as additional cadences emphasis from cymbal clanks or press rolls. Brass slides or upsurges fit into the presentation with consistent linear emphasis. Still in its slightly less than 40-minute running time and with tracks mostly either side of three minutes in length, it suggests that there would have been more notable development if this lunch break had been extended.

There’s a meal of professional, well-played sounds here, but in terms of satisfying musical nutrition there’s something lacking.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Tips In Baghdad 2. Four Or Six 3. When The Wind Cries 4. For Max 5.  Rush Hour 6. Lullaby 7. Jongo 8. Mop Shake And Roll 9. Prayer For The Ancestors 10. Riqq Talk 11. Gratitude.

Personnel: Dave Ballou (trumpet) and Tom Teasley (drums and percussion)