THE TUBA TRIO CHRONICLES VOLUME 2

JOSEPH DALEY / BILL COLE / CRAIG HARRIS / SCOTT ROBINSON / ALTHEA SULLY COLE / WARREN SMITH –

The Tuba Trio Chronicles Volume II (Joda Music 006; USA) Featuring Joseph Daley on tuba, euphonium, piano, drone flute & percussion, Scott Robinson on tenor, bass & contra saxes & flute, Craig Harris on trombone, didgeridoo, flute & percussion, Bill Cole on Chinese sona, nagaswarm (double-reed), didgeridoo & Ghanaian flute, Warren Smith on vibes, marimba, tympani & percussion, Althea Sully Cole on kora and Sarah Sully on voice. This is the second volume of Joseph Daley’s Tuba Trio Chronicles. The first volume was released in 2015 and featured just a trio of Mr. Daley, Warren Smith, and Scott Robinson. Mr. Daley has decided to expand the core trio to include four other like-minded Spirit Music players. Joseph Daley composed all of the music here except for one piece by the late Don Pullen.

“Affirmation” is first and begins with shimmering vibes, quiet and calm. Slowly each instrument enters, somber bass sax, exquisite piano, lush hand percussion… all lovely and uplifting vibe-wise. I really dig the piano on this long piece, which has some lovely harp-like waves. Eventually several flutes come in, all sublimely interwoven with Mr. Smith’s subtle hand percussion. Smith switches to marimba for “Remembrance”, although it sounds like he is playing a balaphon (African xylophone-like instrument). “Morte Io Ti Maledico” is a spoken word piece translated to Italian and it features some extraordinary bass sax, tuba, and drums, improvising together. On “Depth”, there are two didgeridoos pulsating together with eerie, spacious vibes adding their own mysterious sounds. I love the way this music casts a hypnotic spell over all of us who listen, most cerebral. Ms. Sullycole enters playing a tasty groove line on her kora, adding a kind of ritualistic vibe to the proceedings. Mr. Harris plays a haunting, solemn trombone solo on “Precious Naomi”, sounding like a ghost rising from the depths. “Better Days” has an old, funky 2nd line sort of groove, the same sort of vibe found in N’Orleans’ style parades or funeral processions. “Reality” frees things up for some inspired improv solo sections, powerful trombone, and sprawling tenor sax.

The last piece was written by the great pianist Don Pullen, and it is called, “Ode to Life”. This song was featured on a record by Mr. Pullen, and which was dedicated to saxist George Adams, both musicians worked with Charles Mingus together in the early 70’s. This is a sort of ballad or lament with a sad, touching melody which rings true. It is a perfect way to bring this superb, heart-warming disc to a fine close. –

Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG