Record Reviews

ALLISON MILLER / BOOM TIC BOOM ~ BOOM TIC BOOM FOXHAVEN 70026 (Barcode: 600627002625) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is the debut album by American drummer Allison MillerFind albums by this artist and her Boom Tic BoomFind albums by this artist quartet, which also includes pianist Myra MelfordFind albums by this artist, violinist Jenny ScheinmanFind albums by this artist and bassist Todd SickafooseFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight compositions, four of which are originals by Miller, two are originals by Melford and two are (sort of) standards. In fact most of the tracks on this album are recorded in a classic piano trio format and Scheinman, who plays just on one track, is credited as a special guest, only to become a full member of the quartet on subsequent albums. Three women and a guy sound more like a recipe for a romantic comedy than a Jazz ensemble, but in this case the recipe works wonders. Boom Tic Boom really booms, or ticks, or whatever, from the very beginning of this exceptional album and all the way through. The music is modern Jazz, with a lot of Free passages and breathing space, which has everything a great Jazz album should: good melodies, great improvisations, group interplay, fiery solos, a sense of vitality and desire to play together. Combined with virtuosic performances by the musicians, this is definitely a superb example of contemporary music, which is intelligent and emotional, elegant, uncompromising, artistic and above all honest. Miller is an exceptional drummer; that is plainly obvious. She plays more naturally and intuitively then most other Jazz drummers I know, and believe you me, I do know a lot of them. Switching effortlessly between swing, free form, country and rock she is always right where she needs to be in a way she needs to be. Sickafoose is a monster bassist, which is immediately evident from the first bass thud one hears on this album. Down to earth, steady as a rock and completely in charge of his faculties his bass lines are the glue that keeps the music together. His solos here are paradigms of bass perfection. Melford Is the "bad girl" of this crew, making sure the music does not get too pretty and immediately taking it into uncharted territory. They are perfect for each other and their music shows it. This is definitely an album, which I will return to repeatedly, which happens very rarely considering the mountains of albums I´m buried under. Side Note: I was fortunate to meet Allison a few weeks ago in Poland and even had a dinner with her and the other members of the trio she played with, flautist Hadar NoibergFind albums by this artist and bassist Or BareketFind albums by this artist. She gave me two of her albums (this one being one of them), which she signed for me with dedications that read: "Bad Boy" and "Bad Influence", which of course I consider as compliments of the highest degree. She made me fall head over heels in love with her beautiful personality, and I´m grateful for the opportunity to make her acquaintance. Keep up whatever you are doing, because you are doing it right, Girl!

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