Kalaparush (Clarksville, AR, 1936) and The Light (Ravish Momin [Hyderabad, India, 1973] and Jesse Dulman [NYC, NY, 1981]) first recorded their group in May of 2001 (CIMP 247) and, inclusive of that session, this is their fourth recording (Entropy and Delmark). This in and of itself is remarkable in that it almost equals the number of recording sessions Kalaparush led in the first 30 years of his recorded professional life. The group has a sound, apparent on any of their individual releases, but with 4 dates it is also developing a tradition of style. Kalaparush had already established a distinct approach before either Jesse or Ravish were born, so it's rather unique that here are artists, generations apart, not just coming together to complement the heritage of the senior, but together in a very real way managing to bring freshness and extend that continuum as a group.
Established, at least artistically, now they branch out by adding the color and expansiveness of another voice, in this case Adam Lane (Brooklyn, NY, 1968). Adam has a talent for thinking orchestrally and that individualism is well documented on his Full Throttle Orchestra and larger group recordings (Cadence Jazz Records). Adam has also shown that he can be a strong instrumental voice, as witness his duo work with John Tchicai (CIMP) and Blaise Siwula (Cadence Jazz Records). A few days before this date, I communicated to Adam and members of The Light that my aim was not to produce a recording of the Kalaparush Quartet, but to produce a pairing of 2 distinct voices(The Light&Adam Lane) working together (but not co-opting their own distinctiveness) into a rewarding musical journey, letting the similarities and/or differences be encompassed into this—hoped for—symbiotic grouping.
In discussing this with most of the participants, it was clear to me we had a shared aim. And when Adam, after rehearsal the day before this session, told me that "Kalaparush and I really connected; I think this might be the start of a new and meaningful path,"it gave me further cause for optimism.
The band arrived in very good spirits and the sound check exhibited a robustness that seems to continue to grow from Kalaparush in the last few years. And it wasn't long before Kalaparush commanded, "OK, Adam, hit it," and the group launched into Five #1, which, during Jesse's solo, had Kalaparush dancing shuffle beat in place. Who says the tuba can't emote and swing? It's quite apparent that the 3 years this group has now been together has not only brought an increased definition to their music but a confidence and ease in the esprit-de-corps of the trio. This group's clarity would seem to make it reasonably easy for a competent voice to step into the structure. The fact is that it was only a bit more than 24 hours earlier that Adam first played with Kalaparush. Originally, Roy Campbell was to be the guest but Roy's father dieda few days before this date and, when we were unable to reschedule, Kalaparush began the search for another guest. Ravish suggested Adam, thus setting up one of those strange occurrences where Adam can tell people how he (the bassist) was the sub for Roy Campbell (the trumpeter). And in fact, it'shard to imagine—so natural is the fit here—how this would have sounded with trumpet instead of bass. But perhaps that's for another day. As Kalaparush pronounced when I mentioned this, "How you going to tell what you would have done if you had taken another road? It's the problem of life,you never know which way to go."
More words of insight came before Dream of... when Kalaparush told Adam, "Play it out there in space. Don't follow no rules, but the rules still apply." And of course what followed was all about rules...and form. Not intended as a duo, it just grew that way as Jesse and Ravish heard the music.
Following Dream of..., and after a number of false starts and some on-the-spot (re)arrangement, a superb take of Adam's Dance was captured. The high energy Date followed a break, and a charming if unplanned duo improv between Adam and Kalaparush on Confirmation brought the first day's work to an end.
The next morning I relistened to the previous night's work and was very encouraged by what I heard and the enthusiasm of the group's reaction to it: the bulk of this recording had been achieved. Spirits buoyed, they opened with Let Us All Relax, which finds Kalaparush in classic Kalaparush form. We then ended up where we began, (revisiting) with Five #1&2.
Mission accomplished.
Robert D. Rusch - March 5, 2004
Kalaparush Maurice McIntyre can also be heard on CIMPs 174, 214, 247 and CadenceJazz Records 1009
Jesse Dulman and Ravish Momin can also be heard on CIMP 247.
Adam Lane can also be heard on CIMPs 263, 281 and Cadence Jazz Records 1104, 133, 1157, 1162.
