ARETHA TILLOTSON

KINDA OUT WEST

Bent River Records

Aretha Tillotson, bass/composer; Dave Laing, drums Christine Jensen, alto saxophone; Ingrid Jensen, trumpet.

The title of Aretha Tillotson’s sophomore album (Kinda Out West) is an ode to the musicians of her native Alberta, Canada community and the neighboring province of British Columbia. They take root from a land that is lush with prairies and grasslands, bordered by mountains and ocean. Tillotson has composed all nine of the tunes on her second album as a band leader.

Her first original is titled “Jill of All.” Tillotson opens the piece with a bass line to establish the groove. It’s contemporary, with the up-tempo beat of Dave Laing’s drums beating Straight-ahead jazz into my universe. Two talented sisters add their horn power to the arrangement. Christine Jensen is improvising wildly on alto saxophone and Ingrid Jensen blows excitement through the bell of her trumpet.  Then, Aretha Tillotson enters on her big bad bass to share her own powerful solo.  This is one of my favorite tunes on the Tillotson album.

Dave Laing plays a ‘Capella on drums to introduce the title tune.  It skips along at a moderate pace, a modern jazz arrangement with horn harmonics that sing counterpoint.  Tillotson has much to say on her double bass, strutting into the spotlight to solo after the melody is established. Aretha Tillotson’s quartet follows the jazzy tradition of other great chord-less bands. Sonny Rollins did it before Tillotson. So did Ornette Coleman in the 1950s and 60s.

Track #3, “Cricklewood Lane” features a powerful drum line to preface the dual horns that step forward and dance around the melody.  Tillotson’s bass solidifies the piece and locks hands with Laing’s creative, steady drum beat.  The challenge in a chord-less band is to keep the tunes fresh and the audience captivated.  This quartet manages to do just that.

Aretha Tillotson has written a “Lullaby to those Before,” perhaps celebrating the ancestors with this pensive piece of well-written music. Christine Jensen offers us an improvised alto saxophone solo that is warm and pulls open the curtain on sister Ingrid’s trumpet offering. As Ingrid soars above the walking bass of Tillotson, Christine plays a counter melody.  When the horns turn quiet, Tillotson fills the space with her bass expression for several bars.

“Sphere of influence” swings hard, sounding like the bebop days.  “Sad Junie (to Highway Jake)” is a composition that quiets the moment, using the Tillotson bass to establish the tempo and texture of the arrangement.  This time,  the horns play in sweet harmony without the counter point approach.  They make me want to know the story behind the “Sad Junie” title.

All in all, this is an album of creative compositions and talented musicians. Both enthrall and charm me with their talent.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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