ORIGAMI — The Blues Of Joy (review)

ORIGAMI — The Blues Of Joy album cover Album · 2011 · Post Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
On ‘The Blues of Joy’ Australian reed man Adam Simmons leads a trio through a very contemporary post-bop set which sees him focus solely on the alto saxophone. Simmons is a versatile and hard-working musician, playing saxes, flutes and clarinets in as many as seven groups, among them ‘The Adam Simmons Toy Band’ where children’s toys join in on an almost big band setting.

As 'Origami' however, the stripped back sound of a trio allows the listener to hear Simmons wring a wide range of tones from his instrument, from the screeching and honking of ‘Jitters’ to the more gentle phrasing that opens surprise Snow Patrol cover ‘Chasing Cars.’ Released on the independent label ‘Listen/Hear Collective’ the album is another fine move in the general experimental ethos found in much of its catalogue (such as trumpeter Peter Knight’s ‘Fish Boast of Fishing.’) By confining himself to the alto, Simmons pushes the instrument, his trio and doubtless himself to achieve more with less.

Recorded mostly live in the studio after only a few shows together, the trio are particularly effective on the shorter, snappy numbers. Both the title-track and Outkast cover ‘Hey Ya’ come to mind here – part of what gives the album its contemporary feel at times is the way it draws from the pop music sense of dynamics and structures as much as the modern jazz of the post-bop heyday. Slower pieces like the lament of ‘An Ordinary Prayer’ almost, almost lose me in spots but Simmons’ confidence with melodic material and skill as a soloist keep things interesting, as does drummer Anthony Baker, whose staccato approach on ‘Morse Code’ is highly effective.

Elsewhere the darkness of ‘Chimera’ is led by Howard Carns’ sawing on the double bass and further supports the theme of ‘exploring’ your instrument, as he and Baker switch around techniques and approaches throughout the album – especially Baker who goes from brush to snare rim to sticks to ride and back again.

Well worth a listen if you’re new to the Australian jazz scene and looking for an album that while not revolutionary, is certainly inventive and has the right balance of soloing and ensemble playing – and which possesses, in addition to some great covers and originals –hand-folded origami packaging!
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