Michele Rosewoman Spirit
(Blue Note)
Reviewed by Louise Denson

This trio album, recorded live at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 1994, is the sixth release by pianist/composer Michele Rosewoman. It includes five original compositions and two standards, as well as two vocal numbers- Spirit, from the popular group Earth, Wind and Fire, and an arrangement of Dahomey chants sung in Arara dialect, entitled For Agayu. Rosewoman is accompanied by Gene Jackson on drums and Kenny Davis on bass.

Rosewoman has an identifiable personal style with definite strengths and weaknesses. While there is a spirit of freedom and great energy in her playing, her solos tend to lack melodic continuity and clarity. While there is rhythmic variety and interest in her comping and solo lines, the groove sometimes suffers from a slight tendency to rush. And while she clearly has a high level of technical accomplishment at the piano, her playing is often too heavily ornamented and flashy for my taste. (I'm a card-carrying member of the less-is-more school of jazz aesthetics.)

The most convincing number in this collection is Rosewoman's original Independence Day. Her episodic, angular style suits the quirky, Monkish theme, making for a satisfyingly coherent whole.

On the other hand, her interpretations of When Sunny Gets Blue and Dolphin Dance fall short of the mark for me. Extraneous flourishes and a lack of clear direction in the solos leave me feeling that these two beautiful standards have not been given their due.

Davis and Jackson both put in fine performances on this CD. Davis provides a seamless, solid foundation, (especially notable on In a Mood), while Jackson greatly enhances Rosewoman's rhythmic work with his sophisticated, interactive drumming. Two high points on the CD are Jackson's solos over vamp figures (In a Mood and For Monk), where his carefully managed energy comes bursting out in rolling, dense waves.

Both vocal numbers are successful, but unfortunately Rosewoman's voice has not been well recorded and is not out front enough in the mix.

Louise Denson was a Montreal pianist/bandleader/composer.