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Tom Chang: Tongue and Groove

By Mark Corroto
July 29, 2014
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When did the ultimate compliment for a jazz performance switch from "you swing, cat" to "you rock, dude"? Perhaps it happened after a generation of jazz artists raised on rock-n-roll found their way into improvisation and the latitudes of expression that jazz enable. Case in point is Tongue And Groove by guitarist Tom Chang.

Raised on the music of

Jeff Beck

guitar
1944 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, and Jimmy Page, his soul was imprinted with their spirit as he applied his guitar sound to the jazz world. Together with saxophonists

Greg Ward

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Ward (Living By Lanterns,

Mike Reed

drums
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Reed) and

Jason Rigby

saxophone, tenor
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Rigby (Kris Davis Group, Eivind Opsvik's Overseas), bassist

Chris Lightcap

bass
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Lightcap (

Regina Carter

violin
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Regina Carter,

Matt Wilson

drums
b.1964

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

Anthony Braxton

woodwinds
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Braxton), and drummer

Gerald Cleaver

drums
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerald Cleaver (

Ivo Perelman

saxophone, tenor
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Ivo Perelman,

Craig Taborn

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Craig Taborn) the guitarist infuses metal bits into his jazz banquet. "Spinal Tap / Goes to 11" is a take-off on the movie spoof that serves from a head-banging trough. Begging, as the title indicates, to be turned up to 11. The track, reprised again at the end of the disc, is anything but obtuse. Like

David Fiuczynski

guitar
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">David Fiuczynski or

John Scofield

guitar
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">John Scofield, he communicates jazz with a rock accent. There is a bleed through of Led Zeppelin heard on "Bar Codes." But also heard is the influence of

Bill Frisell

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Frisell and

Jim Hall

guitar
1930 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Hall.

Chang understands jazz is an amalgamation process. The blues are referenced here, and bit of funk show up on "Scatterbrain." He has inherited the universal rhythms of

Rudresh Mahanthappa

saxophone, alto
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Rudresh Mahanthappa's music, employing South Indian percussive vocalist Subash Chandran on the title track. The music shifts from the East to Anton Webern with "Variations for Piano Op. 27," to accent his jazz band's ability to solve the complexity of classical music in the manner of a

Steve Coleman

saxophone, alto
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Coleman M-BASE composition. Chang's mix is whip-smart and perceptive.

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Track Listing

Spinal Tap / Goes to 11; Djangolongo; Variations for Piano Op. 27; Sleepwalker; Tongue & Groove; Scatterbrain; Bar Codes; The Logos; Entangoed Heart; Spinal Tap (Tk. 2).

Personnel

Tom Chang

guitar

Tom Chang: guitar; Greg Ward: alto saxophone; Jason Rigby: tenor saxophone; Chris Lightcap: bass; Gerald Cleaver: drums; Akshay Anatapadmanabhan: kanjira, mrindigam; Subash Chandran: konnakol.

Album information

Title: Tongue and Groove | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Self Produced

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