Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dave Rempis/Joshua Abrams/Avreeayl Ra + Jim Baker: Perihelion

Dave Rempis/Joshua Abrams/Avreeayl Ra + Jim Baker: Perihelion

By Mark Corroto
June 21, 2016
View read count

Dave Rempis/Joshua Abrams/Avreeayl Ra + Jim Baker: Perihelion

These days, it's a luxury to have a working jazz band. It's funny to think in those terms, isn't it? Sure, that was a nice record, you think. But modern musicians, particularly jazz musician often play in multiple ensembles, in theatre productions, teach music lessons privately, and curate local music series. These things are often accomplished after their day jobs. So, yes, it is a luxury to have a working jazz band.

Saxophonist

Dave Rempis

saxophone
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Rempis has several working jazz bands and he also manages his own label, Aerophonic Records. Each release focuses on his working bands: The Rempis Percussion Quartet, Ballister, Gunwale, and duos with

Tim Daisy

drums
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Daisy and

Frank Rosaly

drums
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Rosaly, plus significant collaborations with the likes of

Nate Wooley

trumpet
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Nate Wooley,

Ken Vandermark

saxophone
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Vandermark,

Chris Corsano

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Corsano,

Joe Morris

bass, acoustic
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Morris, Lasse Marhaug,

Darren Johnston

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Darren Johnston, and

Larry Ochs

saxophone
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Ochs.

This 2-CD set is by his working trio with drummer

Avreeayl Ra

drums
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Avreeayl Ra and bassist

Joshua Abrams

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Joshua Abrams. A band that formed in 2012 and had previously released Aphelion (2014). The first disc, recorded in 2015 contains a single 43-minute live trio track. The second has two pieces with the inclusion of the mysterious Chicago pianist Jim Baker. Okay, not mysterious, but woefully under-appreciated. Rempis and Baker go back to the days of the Rempis Quartet, Vandermark's Territory Bands, and he plays on the digital-only release Nettle (2016) with Rempis, Joe Morris, and

Tomeka Reid

cello

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomeka Reid. Plus, Baker maintains his own working trio with Joshua Abrams and Avreeayl Ra.

The trio's protracted piece "Enceladus," opens with bowed bass and Ra's cautious drumming before Rempis enters with a blues infusion of alto saxophone. The pace is almost ascetic. Even as the velocity accelerates, there is no sense of recklessness. Abrams' rock steady pulse is ever present here, like an energy blanket. He centers both Rempis' outward flights and Ra's whirling accents. The drummer draws on his years with

Sun Ra

piano
1914 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Sun Ra to inject a world music (maybe otherworldly) beat, and groove is the motif throughout. Rempis switches to tenor for the last third of the piece following Abrams' meditative solo into the finale, which is by the drummer and bassist hoisting flute and clarinet. The piece is a true tour-de-force.

The addition of Baker ups the ante. His keyboards tilt the trio towards tumult on "Cassini Division." The ensuing disquiet is, to paraphrase poet Ted Joans, like screaming '

Cecil Taylor

piano
1929 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor' in Saint Patrick's Cathedral on crowded Easter Sunday. He pushes Rempis, Abrams and Ra to dizzying heights, only to to be captured inside their unflappable vibrations.

The shortest piece here at 8:22, is "Pan And Daphnis." Baker opts for electronics, which moves the piece away from pulse, yet maintains that meditative experience.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

CD1: Enceladus; CD2: Cassini Division, Pan And Daphnis.

Personnel

Dave Rempis

saxophone

Dave Rempis: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone; Joshua Abrams: bass, clarinet; Avreeayl Ra: drums, wooden flute; Jim Baker: keyboards, electronics (CD2).

Album information

Title: Perihelion | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Aerophonic Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Clean Spring
< Previous

Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia with ...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.