John Lindberg

1996 release ** "The thing to do would be to get all misty-eyed about what a great bassist the late David Izenson was and how he brought in the whole deep-bowing technique to jazz with Ornette Coleman in the early '60s. It would also be summarily reasonable to note the student-teacher relationship between Lindberg and Izenson, as well as their friendship, and then discuss the influence of the object of this CD on the subject in terms befitting a jazz record. But forget it. The deal is clear: John Lindberg of the mighty String Trio of New York is a longtime member of the jazz avant-garde and a devotee of the wild, rootsy folk and classical bowing technique that Izenson brought not only to Ornette Coleman's band but also to the groups of Archie Shepp and Sonny Rollins. On this solo bass recording, Lindberg performs an 11-part suite in homage to Izenson as a human being, as a musician, as a mentor, and as a true American original. This is one hell of a bass album! One of the great things that Lindberg does for Izenson is prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that that bowing technique, while it came from classical music, was a bass -- not a cello -- invention. Lindberg acknowledges this over and over again in his own pieces and on two of the late bassist's -- complete with vocals on the classic "In My Mind's Eye," a mystical beat poetry sung ode. Lindberg's own technique is flawless and all of that, but the most important thing is that he rips through this suite joyously and with plenty of New York soul. He swings deep, he digs deeper, and he plays the blues until they are hued with a glowing back that shines like coral. This is every bit the record Gary Peacock's December Poems is, and it's a good thing, too -- listeners needed another one right about now.