Armen Donelian - Quartet Language (2003)

Tracklist

01. Jabberwackey
02. The Germ
03. Mexico
04. Loose as a Goose
05. Brood Mood

This high-powered and colorful live set was recorded at New York's Visiones in 1992 but not released for the first time until 11 years later. Pianist Armen Donelian contributed all five selections, and he is heard leading a high-quality post-bop trio that is joined by the explosive alto playing of Thomas Chapin. Chapin, who prematurely died six years later at age 40 from leukemia, consistently steals the show. He sounds a lot like Eric Dolphy on "Jabberwackey" and is full of fire on each selection, bubbling over with intensity while still often playing within the chord changes. The relatively conservative setting for Chapin makes this a fairly accessible outing and an excellent example of his playing in modern mainstream jazz. Donelian's songs are excellent, particularly "Jabberwackey" (which alternates between 7/4 and 4/4 time), the bolero "Mexico," and the passionate jazz waltz "Loose as a Goose," and the interplay by the trio is stimulating and subtle. All of the performances are at least ten minutes long, yet this set moves by quickly. It is well worth several listens.

Alto Saxophone – Thomas Chapin
Bass – Calvin Hill
Drums – Jeff Williams
Piano – Armen Donelian

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