Search - Ori Kaplan :: Gongol

Knitting Factory at its best

William E. Russell | Oakland, CA [Bostonian-in-exile] | 06/30/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The downtown New York avant-garde scene documented by the Knitting Factory label is something of a mixed bag: the music is often austere and anhedonic-as if the musicians believed that giving pleasure to an audience might be a violation of their artistic integrity. Just as often, though, Knitting Factory is a haven for artistic individualists whose work doesn't fit into a convenient marketing niche. Alto saxophonist Ori Kaplan, it turns out, falls into the latter category. Never having heard of Kaplan, I bought GONGOL on the assumption that any CD with Susie Ibarra on percussion was bound to have at least a couple of great tracks. My expectations were exceeded; almost every track is on my A-list. "Slow Boat" is the obvious crowd-pleaser. The percussionists set up a slow, sensual beat; the pianist lays down a bed of lush rippling chords; the altoist intones a lovely, Middle-Eastern tinged melody. A gorgeous piece of music, beautifully developed and resolved. This track should appeal to anyone, jazz fan or not. "Prayer for Ramon" is equally fine, though it requires a more adventurous taste. From the opening statement of the folkish melody on solo mandolin, the tune gradually goes outside, builds to a shrieking climax, and then returns briefly to the lyrical, meditative place from which it started out-a familiar trope in Free Jazz, nicely handled by four superb musicians. Every track on this CD has its own individual character, though not all of them will satisfy everyone's taste. Kaplan has also recorded twice for CIMP (another label that has released its share of fairly dour stuff) with his Trio Plus (with Tom Abbs on bass and Geoff Mann on drums). I've heard one of the Trio Plus CDs, DELIRIUM (on which the trio is joined by Steve Swell on trombone), and its high points are every bit as good as the best of GONGOL. The music on DELIRIUM is generally more outside, less accessible, than most of GONGOL. But those who are willing to listen with an open mind will be rewarded."