by Angela Sutton
Bassdrumbone turned in a squalling tomcat of a set last night down in the Cornelia St. Cafe's red-and-blue shoebox performance space. None of the three musicians (Ray Anderson, trombone; Mark Helias, bass; Gerry Hemingway, drums) showed much interest in the "traditional" jazz sound of their instruments, opting instead for a wide range of found, alternative sounds. "Pretty" and "restrained" are not words that could be used to describe the result, but a dynamic group soundscape emerged which was, in its own way, fascinating.
The opening number, a Hemingway composition, served as a manifesto for the night. Freely improvised yet carefully negotiated, the bass opened with high plucked notes while Hemingway poked and scratched his cymbals, occasionally hand drumming on the toms. At the same time, Mr. Anderson contributed all kinds of sounds on trombone.
Mr. Anderson, with the stage presence of a latter-day hipster Icabod Crane, led the way throughout. His playing ranged from flatulent snarls at the bottom to muffled squeaks at the top, and everything in between. When he chose to, Mr. Anderson could also produce a beautiful tone, particularly in the high register. His ability to move quickly from low to high and back – a difficult trick on the trombone – was also impressive. The closest analogy that came to mind, for me, was scat singing, with its melodic jumping and imitiation of percussive effects. Indeed, all three musicians could be considered percussionists, the combined sound becoming an interchange of pointillistic interjections.
After the opener, the trio presented an ironic nod to Dixieland jazz – probably the most melodic number of the set – followed by some mellow pieces that featured bass and trombone. The final number included an extended drum solo which would not have been out of place in most rock bands, closing with a coordinated last note from the three musicians that revealed the high degree of communication between them.
Bassdrumbone's high level of musicianship flows in an unusual direction, but I found myself always curious about what would happen next. This is a trio for those searching for the unexpected.