From the beginning of his recording career in August 1981, West Coast saxophonist Rich Halley has either played his own compositions or delved into free improvisation. With The Literature, new from the Rich Halley 3, Halley and long-time companions Clyde Reed on bass and Carson Halley on drums dip into material by some of his influences, which range from Ornette Coleman and Thelonious Monk to the Carter family and country singer Jimmie Rodgers. The results are consistently inspired renditions of classic compositions, no matter the source. The trio tears right into Miles Davis’ Little Willie Leaps to establish their working method of putting their own modernistic spin on familiar melodies. Coleman and Monk get two selections each, and we’re also regaled with tunes by Duke Ellington (a starkly beautiful Mood Indigo), Charles Mingus (a sensitive reading of Pussy Cat Dues), Sun Ra (a snappily swinging version of Kingdom of Not from Super-Sonic Jazz), and others. The trio attacks it all with a stirring mix of respect and reinvention. There are many special moments scattered among the 57 minutes, including Reed’s forceful bass solo on Monk’s Misterioso, Carson Halley’s rollicking drum solo on Mongo Santamaria’s Chano Pozo, the trio’s unified strut on Coleman’s Broad Way Blues, and Rich Halley’s powerfully angular solo on Monk’s Brilliant Corners. I highly recommend adding The Literature to your collection and finding your own favorites.
Pine Eagle 011; Rich Halley (ts, clapping) Clyde Reed (b) Carson Halley (d, clapping); Portland, OR, August 26-27, 2017; Little Willie Leaps/ Misterioso/ Chano Pozo/ Broad Way Blues/ High Powered Mama/ Mood Indigo/ Brilliant Corners/ Motherless Children/ Pussy Cat Dues/ Kingdom of Not/ Someday You’ll Call My Name/ Law Years; 57:53. www.richhalley.com
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