Matt Wilson

Didactic without being dull, the good troubles New York drummer Matt Wilson refers to are those championed by the likes of Congressman John Lewis and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to bring about progressive social change. Subjects of the disc’s three-part title suite, though throughout drummer, who turns 60 September 27,  and has worked with conceptualizers as different as Myra Melford and Dena DeRose as well as leading multiple bands, values swing over sloganeering. His skillful percussion drives a mixture of hard and free bop tracks here with the help of alto saxophonist Tia Fuller and tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Jeff Lederer, pianist Dawn Clement and bassist Ben Allison, committed veteran improvisers all.

With waggish humor the band ends “RSG”, the boppish swinger honoring Ginsburg, chanting “honor her/serve the community”. Surging saxophone harmonies and a faultless drum backbeat remain in the subsequent “Walk With The Wind” and the title track, both honoring Lewis civil rights work in the 1960s and beyond. Purely instrumental defiant points are made through

Lederer’s snarling roadhouse-style honks, Fuller’s churchy harmonies and some gospel-style chording from Clement.

Elsewhere the quintet turns Ornette Coleman’s “Feet Music” into a stop-time rouser with saxophone call and response surging up and down over the drummer deft paradiddles and makes the drummer’s own “Albert’s Alley” balance on Allison’s speedy bass pulse as Lederer’s biting multiphonics evoke Albert Ayler. Besides the fighters for political freedom, the disc is also dedicated to deceased improvisers who epitomized musical freedom.

Crucially, the concluding “CommUnity Spirit” epitomizes the disc’s message of universal cooperation through measured rhythms. It does this by wrapping the message in a mixture of New Orleans and reggae beats propelled by clarinet slides and cowbell and claves shakes.

If the disc has a downside though it’s the inclusion of two syrupy ballads sung with lyrical sincerity by Clement. On their own they’re inoffensive enough, but detract from the high quality of the rest of the session. By skipping over these songs though, a fine instance of committed, swinging, modern, no borders jazz can be heard

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Fireplace 2. Albert’s Alley 3. Be That As It May 4. RGB 5. Walk With The Wind 6. Good Trouble 7. Feet Music 8. Sunshine On My Shoulders 9. Libra 10. CommUnity Spirit

Personnel: Tia Fuller (alto saxophone); Jeff Lederer (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Dawn Clement (piano, voice); Ben Allison (bass) and Matt Wilson (drums)