Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » John Bishop: Nothing if Not Something

293

John Bishop: Nothing if Not Something

By

Sign in to view read count
John Bishop: Nothing if Not Something
John Bishop heads one of the most dynamic new jazz labels, Origin Records, out of Seattle, Washington. In addition to his chores running the company, Bishop also designs some of the coolest cover art out there. Origin has released two hundred-plus CDs, garnering four Grammy nominations along the way.

Bishop plays some drums, too, co-leading a fully intregrated piano trio, New Stories, and he sits in the drummer's chair on dozens of Origin recordings. In spite of all the activity, he is apparently not one to seek out the spotlight: Nothing if Not Something is only the second release under his own name, a trio outing with bassist Jeff Johnson (who has played with Philly Joe Jones, Hal Galper, and Jessica Williams) and alto saxophonist Rick Mandyck (Mark Murphy, Billy Hart, and Lawrence Marable).

The set explores a mostly introspective musical world, much in the mode of Johnson's excellent Near Earth (Origin, 2004). Johnson's bass has an expansive depth, laying a foundation of heft and solidity to complement the airiness of Mandyck's long sweet lines, and Bishop, a wonderfully creative and fluid percussionist who weaves an often understated but complex web of textures, waxes orchestral on the drum kit.

This alluring trio set maintains Origin Records' tradition of outstanding music with a contemplative free sound infused with extroversion and heat, similar in tone to Tony Malaby's Adobe (Sunnyside, 2004).

Track Listing

Sari; All Days Pass; Orange Blossom; Anata Wa Utsukushi; Hurt Brothers; Lady in Black; Taking Forever; Lost & Found; Gone.

Personnel

Rick Mandyck: alto saxophone; Jeff Johnson: bass; John Bishop: drums.

Album information

Title: Nothing if Not Something | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Origin Records

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.