Rumbler

With this, his ninth album as leader, pianist Bill Anschell returns this time with a fuller ensemble and emphasis on original tunes and arrangements. Headquartered in Seattle and environs, he brings a relaxed, melodic approach but does not shy away from hot inventions. The three covers are Monk's Misterioso, Lennon & McCarty's For No One, and Ellington's Reflections in D (a pure piano solo). His group includes the trio stalwarts bassist Chris Symer and Jose Martinez on drums plus guitarist Brian Monroney (who adds some rock licks), percussionist Jeff Busch, saxophonists Jeff Coffin, soprano, Richard Cole, tenor, and Hans Teuber, tenor, alto and alto flute. While Monk's mysterious piece scrapes the edges of rock and blues, the highlight of the album is the lovely ballad Captive Light that begs for lyrics. That it is in 5/4 time adds to the charm. Another rhythmic adventure is the Afro-Peruvian lando, Dark Wind, which blends in some of the mridangam drum rhythms Anschello learned from T. Ranganathan. The rock-ish track MBK is named for a Bangkok food court; with some electronic echo processing and a repeating descending riff, it has vestiges of the psychedelic era. The anthem No You Go has a strong staggered beat and a fast, driving beat. Stretching into Latin rhythms and harmonies and establishing a sunny groove shifts the locale of the Beatle's tune The title cut, Rumbler, had me going to the internet for help, it being a device for peeling potatoes, an obnoxious siren, a rattle's rattle, one who participates in a rumble gang fight, and a motorcycle name. Whichever or none of the above, the track is a nice exploration, so I vote for transportation. 39F, of course, is the airplane seat number when Anschell traveled to South America; a samba musically. Heisenberg's Fugue State is another cryptic title that has nothing to do with atomic momentum/location uncertainty; rather the music has the semblance of a fugue via counterpoint. So what is The Dreaded "E" Word? Anschell says "exposure". If this was photography, I would say that the setting was proper for a fast-moving, bouncing get-away car. The album has much to offer the listener, with each track a new tone, a new rhythm, a new feeling. Other than the final solo, merit goes to the entire ensemble. 5-STARS