Join Us [Audio CD] Mor Thiam; Hamiet Bluiett and D. D. Jackson

Now a regularly working unit, this trio capitalises on the distinctive combination of Hamiet Bluiett's baritone saxophone, D.D. Jackson's keyboards and Mor Thiam's West African djembe drum. The Illinois-born Bluiett is mainly known as a founder member of the World Saxophone Quartet, while Jackson and Thiam are frequent collaborators with David Murray. Even though Jackson provides half the tunes, the album still comes across as an instrumentally democratic affair. The main elements making up their sound are funk, R&B, free jazz and traditional African music, all rearing up in varying ratios. Bluiett's honking and barking baritone provides the backbone of each tune, taking turns to provide walking basslines and high register solos. Jackson's palette is extremely broad, traversing avant garde grand piano cascades, slinking organ and sampled marimba sounds. Thiam's percussion may well be limited to the one drum but the djembe has a whole repertoire of sounds lurking within its single skin. During "Ayse", Jackson initiates an impressionistic sprinkling that's reminiscent of the Art Ensemble, Bluiett responding with his ultra-danceable "Is There A Problem?". Each player also has a short solo showcase track, giving a feel for their individual timbres and talents. --Martin Longley