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James Cammack: Both Sides Of The Coin: Part 1

By Ian Patterson
October 9, 2012
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James Cammack: Both Sides Of The Coin: Part 1

Though James Cammack began on electric bass in the mid-1970s, he's best known as the double-bassist for legendary pianist

Ahmad Jamal

piano
1930 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Ahmad Jamal, a role that kept him on his toes for a remarkable 29 years. Cammack has graced many of Jamal's best latter-day recordings, but it's really live, locking horns in an improvisational cauldron with Jamal and drummers of the caliber of

Idris Muhammad

drums
1939 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Idris Muhammad and

Herlin Riley

drums
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Herlin Riley, that Cammack's own talent as an improviser and accompanist are best seen. Cammack reverts to the electric bass for his debut as leader, and presents originals that strike an impressive balance between compositional depth, melodic appeal and improvisational swagger.

Besides bass, Cammack plays keys/synthesizers, and his imaginative programming paints a wide range of tones and colors. On the lively "Where You Going," a steel drum motif pulses throughout while Cammack's layered bass lines provide rhythmic anchor and melodic lead. Drummer

Kim Plainfield

" data-original-title="" title="">Kim Plainfield's polyrhythmic bustle and guitarist Robert Baglione's fluid jazz-rock lines bring an urbane edge to a very contemporary sounding composition that evokes the bop-centric excursions of guitarist/composer

Frank Zappa

guitar, electric
1940 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Zappa. One Jamal trait that characterizes Cammack's music is a sense of continual motivic development; melodic motifs act as starting points for most of these compositions—often serving too as rhythmic/melodic mantras—on tunes that are in a constant state of becoming.

Cammack takes care of all the business on "How Long...How Long...," a basic rhythm track and light, washing synthesizer providing the backdrop for the bassist's lyrical playing. "Nomad" is another subtle vehicle for Cammack's lyricism—seen as much in his songwriting as in his soloing—with pianist

Alan Eicher

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Alan Eicher and Baglione, on acoustic guitar, significantly coloring this simple but pretty tune. Cammack's natural melodic flair, prodigious technique and adherence to music over exhibitionism place him squarely alongside modern masters of electric bass such as

Jimmy Haslip

bass
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Haslip and

Matthew Garrison

bass, electric
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Matthew Garrison.

"And Then" is a steadily grooving number driven by drummer

Steve Haas

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Haas. Cammack's melodic hooks and contours seduce from the get-go and never relinquish their hold. Guitarist

Norman Johnson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Norman Johnson and tenor saxophonist Ken Gioufree both carve impressive solos which add textural contrast, though the final word belongs to Cammack who weaves a wonderful solo that ripples and purrs like a bubbling brook. Cammack's deft keyboard work defines these compositions almost as much as his bass, inducing the tone of a vibraphone on the sophisticated pop that's "New and Different View" and a delightful, flute-like vibrato on "Life Not Easy."

The "Rise and Fall of it All" is essentially a steady groove with a series of interconnected solos from saxophonist

Paula Atherton

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Paula Atherton, Baglione, and Cammack, though there's a level of sophistication in the subtle arrangement that elevates the music above much modern jazz-fusion. "Looks That Way" is an episodic number, anchored by a mantra-like keyboard/guitar-led motif. Pianist

Leandro Lopez-Varady

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Leandro Lopez-Varady's tumbling piano lines and Carl Coan's swirling EWI provide contrasting elements in a powerful closing number, where Cammack shows his considerable chops.

This is a very impressive debut, which will hopefully pave the way for further solo statements— whether on acoustic or electric bass—from one of the most unassuming yet most talented of modern jazz bassists.

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Track Listing

Where You Going; How Long��How long��; New and Different View; Nomad Intro; Nomad; And Then; Life Not Easy; The Rise and Fall of it All; Pursue to Move Forward; Looks That Way.

Personnel

James Cammack

bass

James Cammack: electric bass, keys, synthesizer, programming; Kim Plainfield: drums (1, 5); Robert Baglione: electric guitar (1, 8, 10), acoustic guitar (5); Frank Bellucci: drums (3); Alan Eicher: piano (5); Steve Haas: drums (6); Norman Johnson: electric guitar (6, 9), acoustic guitar (7); Ken Gioufree: saxophone (6); Bill Pernice: keyboards, piano (7); Artie Dixon: drums (7); Neal Alexander: keyboards (8); Lionel Cordew: drums (8); Paula Atherton: saxophones (8); Clyde Davis: drums (10); Leandro Lopez-Varady: piano (10); Carl Coan: EWI (10).

Album information

Title: Both Sides Of The Coin: Part 1 | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced

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