Paul Motian - I Have The Room Above Her

First posted on Mark Is Cranky:

You wouldn't suppose that most musicians would look favorably upon being compared to an old pile of rocks. How about an old, organized pile of rocks?

This isn't some kind of clever reviewer trick. Honestly, it's just a coincidence. While giving I Have The Room Above Her the first listen, I happened to have a nice view out the bedroom window. Through the maples and oaks beside our antique house, an old rock wall can be seen curving up and over the next ridge.

A few moments before focusing my gaze through the rippled glass, I had been trying to pin down what is is that makes Paul Motian unique. A drummer who favors subtlety over bombast, Motian seems to simultaneously construct a pulse and contribute to the melody by employing an endless supply of accents.

Hmmm...nice, but not quite there yet.

Then it hit me. It's not just Motian's technique. It's his entire history as a jazz musician. The more I listen, the more his past reveals itself. This idea resonated with my current interest in the stone walls of New England. Having recently moved to the historic district of a small rural town, I've had an opportunity to observe many walls up close...and to ruminate on their past (and future). Just like a jazz composition is not merely a collection of notes, a stone wall is not just a pile of rocks. That wall outside our window frames what used to be a 'highway', one that originated from what is now the base of our driveway. If you observe the fragments of stone walls laced throughout my little area, the story of the past is revealed.

Does Paul Motian's music in the present reveal anything about his past? Without a doubt. The list of Motian's past cohorts is most impressive: Coleman Hawkins, Lennie Tristano, Thelonius Monk, George Russell, Paul Bley, Keith Jarrett, Carla Bley. Big names all. Add to the list one more giant: Bill Evans. Motian played in the Bill Evans Trio for several years alongside bassist Scott LeFaro. I came to Bill Evans' music not it the 'normal' way (via Miles Davis' Kind of Blue) but through Motian's Bill Evans. A fine record on which long-time partners Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano put a unique spin on the music of Bill Evans.

Article Author: Mark Saleski

Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. He is an editor and writer for Jazz.com. He also writes reviews for Blogcritics.org and produces the weekly feature The Friday Morning Listen. …

Visit Mark Saleski's author page — Mark Saleski's Blog