MICHAEL FORMANEK — The Rub and Spare Change (review)

MICHAEL FORMANEK — The Rub and Spare Change album cover Album · 2010 · 21st Century Modern Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
snobb
San Francisco-born and NYC-based bassist Michael Formanek started his career at 19 being a member of Tony Williams Lifetime. During 80s he worked with such great jazz musicians as Freddie Hubbard, Stan Getz and Joe Henderson among many others. Starting from 1990 he regularly releases albums as leader, generally on European labels.His most longstanding collaborator is creative sax player Tim Berne,playing almost on every Formanek's album. At the same time Formanek for decades is a member of different Berne's projects.

"The Rub and Spare Change" is first Formanek album in 12 years and his debut on prestigious German label ECM. The other members of his quartet are Tim Berne,drummer Gerald Cleaver and pianist Craig Taborn. All musicians are well established American creative artists, but what is most important - they have excellent communication when playing together. Formanek during all his career is known as talented composer and this album is not exception - music here represents perfect balance between composed and improvised, with some catchy tunes, lot of poly-rhythmic changes, chamber elegance of ECM tradition and some controlled solo explosions.

Real release's hero is pianist Craig Taborn, bringing most of lively moods and freer atmosphere, Tim Berne sounds more solid than adventurous, differently from his solo releases. Music in all leaves very pleasant feeling - successful mix of beautiful and creative, chamber and risky, elegant and adventurous. Not an album for fans of screaming sax and drastic experimentation, more creative ECM release, trying to find new, more adventurous and creative ground after some too safe decades. Easy accessible from first look, this album requires repeated listening. Could be recommended for everyone coming from more accessible ECM contemporary jazz recordings and searching a bit more adventurous quality listening.

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