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Nature Work: Nature Work

By Mark Corroto
July 13, 2019
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Jason Stein

clarinet, bass
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Stein and

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Ward are two stalwart Chicago musicians who continually stretch boundaries and search for new experiences. Stein, a devotee of the bass clarinet, maintains two trios, Hearts & Minds (with

Paul Giallorenzo

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Giallorenzo and

Chad Taylor

drums
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Chad Taylor) and Locksmith Isador (with

Jason Roebke

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Roebke and

Mike Pride

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Pride), plus his quartet with

Joshua Abrams

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Joshua Abrams,

Keefe Jackson

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Keefe Jackson, and

Tom Rainey

drums
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Rainey. Ward's alto saxophone (and occasional clarinet) can be heard in his large ensemble 10 Tongues and Rogue Parade (with

Matt Gold

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Gold,

Dave Miller

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Miller,

Matt Ulery

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Ulery, and

Quin Kirchner

drums
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Quin Kirchner). Together they collaborated with drummer

Mike Reed

drums
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Reed on the recording and tour for Flesh and Bone (482 Music, 2017). It seemed only natural the pair join forces for a project such as this.

Their choice of the non-Chicagoans

Eric Revis

bass
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Revis and

Jim Black

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Black over the uber-talented local bassists and drummer / musicians listed above is where the musical unawares come in. But then again, both Stein and Ward love to zag when you think they are about to zig. Revis, probably best known as the bassist for

Branford Marsalis

saxophone
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Branford Marsalis' quartet, has led several cutting-edge solo projects that have included Chicagoan

Ken Vandermark

saxophone
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Vandermark. Black is a force of nature unto himself, with his quartet Alasnoaxis, a trio, and contributions to Human Feel, Endangered Blood, Carlos Bica & Azul, and various

Tim Berne

saxophone, alto
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Berne projects.

With Stein and Ward sharing the composition duties we get this m��lange of sweet and savory, where quite often (and often unanticipated) Stein's bass clarinet is tangy and Ward's alto saxophone is honeyed. Opening with "The Shiver," the horns trade-off twisting notes over a driving rock pulse. Not satisfied to recreate

Clifford Jordan

saxophone, tenor
1931 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Clifford Jordan &

John Gilmore

saxophone, tenor
1931 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">John Gilmore's Blowing In From Chicago (Blue Note, 1957) both Revis and Black continually muddy the musical waters, jolting the tempos and ruffling the unruffled. Black's drumming on "Zenith" is eccentric and unorthodox, but it sets up Ward's

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman-inspired composition. There is a tension to the music that comes from four very strong-willed musicians. Strong-willed though doesn't mean selfish. Revis' opening salvo on "Hem The Jewels" weaves a dense and jungle-like path of interplay. With Black battering his kit, Stein blows some twisting

Eric Dolphy

woodwinds
1928 - 1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Dolphy-sounding notes and Ward opts to dance lightly on top of the skirmish. "Tah Dazzle" builds upon a very simple progression, and builds and builds. The blues inflected piece snakes its way, albeit haltingly from smoke to a roaring fire, back to smoldering embers. One wonders if this recording is a one-off, a catching of lightning in a bottle, and could this quartet summon the power of this magical session again?

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Track Listing

The Shiver; Hem The Jewels; Porch Time; Zenith; Opter Fopter; Cryptic Ripple; Tah Dazzle; South Hempstead; Ride.

Personnel

Greg Ward

saxophone

Greg Ward: alto saxophone; Jason Stein: bass clarinet; Eric Revis: bass; Jim Black: drums.

Album information

Title: Nature Work | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records

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