Call to the Stars

An unsung hero of modern jazz clarinet, Robinson and his quartet stretch parameters and challenge structure, yet languish in tradition. Theirs is a highly metabolized swing fueled by the always incredible pianist Simon Nabatov, grounded by the bass and scat of Ed Schuller, and flavored with less-intense but varied rhythmic spices by drummer Ernst Bier. Robinson's personal sound comes to the top, a ribald, inquisitive, humorous clarinet. Six pieces come from the leader. "Unisphere" and "Warp Factor Nine" (he's a Star Trek fan) are free, spontaneous compositions; the former has Robinson tossing out phrases and the others responding, the latter with a ruminating drum solo igniting a free bop romp and Nabatov's exploratory pianistics. On the title track, delicate call and response between Robinson and the band leads to solid swing, while "Perry's Troika" contrasts startled flutters informing a lilting melodic line and a hard bop bridge, with darker clarinet and piano with German inflections. "Periwinkle Blue" has Schuller's deep ostinato modal bass setting off an infectious swing. Robinson nods his head to his hero, bassist Henry Grimes, for "Henry's Dance," a good swinger in the older-styled tradition, with Nabatov's honky tonk-sounding spinet creating an arresting sound. The Grimes chart "Farmer Alfalfa" has a three-note ostinato bass/piano unison line with clarinet on top in a solid swing casting. This was originally done on Robinson's 1962 Savoy recording Funk Dumpling. Schuller is frequently heard on his bass solos scatting along. He reflects on several shades of blues — dark, royal, and light — during "Shu Bass Blues." A spacy intro and outro on Darius Brubeck's "Sindaram Song" has Robinson's overdubbed clarinet, a rat-a-tat-tat staccato melody, easier swing, and a Don Pullen-like hand-turned solo from Nabatov. Dennis Yerry's ballad "Old Growth Forest" has direct melodic inferences to "You Don't Know What Love Is," "Star Eyes," and "Don't Explain," with gospel shadings from the pianist. This is the complete portrait of what Robinson's fertile mind conjures, well executed by a most talented ensemble, and one of few recorded documents from this brilliant clarinetist and underappreciated modern man. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi