Tethered Moon
Chansons de Edith Piaf (Winter & Winter)
Paul Motian & the Electric Bebop Band
Monk & Powell (Winter & Winter)
The French chanson is the stuff of high drama, evocative to the extreme, with a minor/major key duality that’s symbolic of a divided post-war Europe. No practitioner brought more to the genre than Edith Piaf, and it’s fitting that Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi and his group Tethered Moon (Gary Peacock, bass; Paul Motian, drums) pay homage in this compelling work. Kikuchi is a heavy dramatist himself, his playing adventurous. As with the group’s previous Kurt Weill interpretations, Piaf’s material is wrung inside out, rendered almost unrecognizable, yet its mood is unmistakable. Tethered Moon, in their short time together, remain an exciting modernist combustion; Kikuchi is in the forefront, yet much is due to Paul Motian’s unpredictable and innately musical approach. Motian is not only in demand as a player, but continues to lead his own endeavors. The Electric Bebop Band is Motian’s idea of a big band, and his chance to cut loose. The unusual instrumentation, two saxes, two guitars (including Chris Potter on tenor and the young phenom Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar), and a rhythm section combine for some unique voicings. Sticking to more up-tempo selections, Motian’s usual ethereal work is replaced by a propulsive beat. Unlike Tethered Moon, the Bebop Band presents the material of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk in a more faithful fashion. There are efforts to subvert, but especially in Monk’s case, there aren’t that many angles left to explore. This familiarity ultimately undercuts the group’s bold explorations. Tethered Moon have discovered Edith Piaf’s secret; there’s nothing like a little mystery to keep them coming back for more. (Chansons de Edith Piaf) 
(Monk & Powell)
This article appears in November 12 • 1999.