82% Chance of Rain

Rain is an Oregon theme that was started on Oliver's 2007 release, ?Otis Stomp? which was named for the tiny, rainy town near Lincoln City, and continues here in his latest sextet recording's title. The Portland pianist/composer and his group have recorded a lengthy disc of original compositions that are at times dense and intricate. The opener, ?Inattentive Attendent,? has a busy undercurrent, but it's floating hythm makes for a pleasing musical journey. Saxophonists Mary Sue Tobin and Willie Matheis share the melodies, and their woodwinds bring texture to the pieces, especially when Tobin picks up the clarinet. The compositions were written by Oliver and other band members, including guitarist Dan Duval, Matheis, and drummer Kevin Van Geem. This is not straight-ahead jazz by any means. It is compositional and often quite complex. Van Geem's ?Bolivar? is brash and angular, while Duval's ?Only a Quality Lime for Eric Gruber #1? (in reference to bassist Gruber) is a chamber piece that sounds like a movie score condensed to less than three minutes. The contrapuntal lines of Oliver's ?800 Turtles? makes it a playful piece, while Matheis's languid ?I Am Yours? utilizes space and melody to slow down the pace. While there are four composers here, all the tunes fit nicely togethe. This is a side of Portland jazz we don?t get to hear often but a welcome addition to the area's rich musical landscape.