Definitely a case of let’s. And it’s more
Drawn from The Dreamworld of Paul Motian (Sunnyside) out in mid-August this quietly compelling pared back version of American drummer composer Paul Motian (1931-2011)’s Psalm (ECM, 1982) piece ‘Yahllah’ is essential. Note the spelling in the new version’s titling is of a word that can mean “let’s”and is without the initial silent ”h.”
The main differences in the hypnotic arrangement is that the treatment does not open with the rustle of percussion, indicated by bells and intimations of birdsong, and there is no role for saxophone.
And instead the treatment by sensitive to the filgree harmonies that chimes with a Satie sensibility from pianist Anat Fort is with guitarist Steve Cardenas who takes on the melody late on in the interpretation intertwiningly, bassist Gary Wang and drummer Matt Wilson.
From a project dedicated to the influential drummer and composer, Israeli pianist Fort, 55, known for her own recordings on ECM such as 2007’s A Long Story on which Motian himself appeared, was initially drawn to Motian’s work through classic recordings such as Sunday at the Village Vanguard (Riverside, 1961) when Motian was in the Bill Evans Trio.
For this tribute album, Fort worked from published lead sheets and received guidance from musicians who had worked with Motian such as Cardenas, who was on Motian classic Garden of Eden (ECM, 2006) among other PM recordings.
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