Loopin' The Cool

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Mark Helias covers all the bases on this intensely satisfying record: surprising compositions, intriguing arrangements, hot blowing, moments of tenderness, earthiness and constant imagination. Helias’ fifth date as a leader for enja, Loopin’ The Cool, is, in fact, so strong it reminds me how we came to expect music of this caliber from NYC in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, and how slippery the slope has been for some of that milieu’s main figures ever since.

On the bottom, Helias’ fat, Mingusy bass makes a big bed for the tunes. He’s outward-bound but loves to groove, and his superb feel lends the session irrepressible momentum. Drummer Rainey and Guinean percussionist Bangoura tangle their percussives intelligently, providing space as well as interaction; on the opening tune”Munchkins” as well as “Seventh Sign” they manage to be unobtrusive but-- even without explosive dynamics-- propulsive as hell. From his work with Edward Blackwell’s Project, Helias adapts his tune”Thumbs Up” with its totally funky bassline and great African feel. All but three of the compositions (“Pentahouve”, “Hung Over Easy” and “El Baz”) utilize dramatic tempo shifts; as a writer, Helias knows how an abrupt leap from fast to slow or a quick sneak from one time signature into another can introduce a new mood or catalyze a soloist.

With the Carter/Eskelin frontline, Helias has created a provocative combination--the tenor/violin mix is startling, especially on the many unison sections that feature the two in tandem. Best vantage on this unique texture is “Pacific Rim” though it is contrasted interestingly with a Balafon/bass through-line on “Pentahouve” and juxtaposed against a bass/tenor passage at the end of “One Time Only”. In her solos, Carter exercises complete control, avoiding the high-harmonic flurries to which other violinists often gravitate; check her feature “”El Baz”. Eskelin is one of the great emergent talents of our time, and he’s in his element here, tackling extendo-line charts and leaping headlong into flowing solos. He’s developed an outrageous method of combining overtones into straight-toned runs, much the way Derek Bailey does on guitar. Helias’ aching blues “Hung Over Easy” brings the Sheppishness in Eskelin’s approach into full, swaggering view, right up to the flutter end.

Loopin’ The Cool ; true grit with an intellect.
--John Corbett