Dark Metals

Bassist Anthony Cox had served time in numerous jazz ensembles, including groups led by Anthony Davis and Marty Ehrlich, before being given a chance to record his first session as a leader, Dark Metals. He assembled a strong hand and half, young and old quartet with veterans Dewey Redman and Billy Higgins, and produced a solid, relatively straight-ahead date, enjoyable for both the breathy expansiveness of the compositions and the relaxed though often probing contributions of the soloists. Though references are made to various musical traditions (Brazilian and African among them) and despite the presence of two Ornette Coleman alumni, this is generally a mainstream jazz release, if more creative and imaginative than most issued by the so-called Young Lions of the time. Redman, in particular, plays with an authority of tone and individuality of sound that separates him from many of his generation. Cox' own playing has a deep, burnished quality, and he adapts to the varied compositional demands with suppleness and conviction. While little new conceptual ground is broken, Dark Metals is a good, substantial effort and well worth the attention of any jazz fan.