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Dave Ballou: Amongst Ourselves
Amongst Ourselves is Dave Ballou's maiden voyage as a leader. Producer Nils Winther was so impressed with Ballou's contribution to Steve LaSpina's CD When Children Smile (Steeplechase) that he wanted to ink him right away. The result of this urgency is Amongst Ourselves, recorded in 1997 and released a year later. For his first date as a leader, Ballou selected the formidable and adaptable rhythm section of bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Jeff Williams. In front with him is tenorist Tony Malaby, who plays an effective id to Ballou's ego, as well as sharing the composing duties on the disc.
This is rambunctious, almost out of control music. If Coleman's Free Jazz and Coltrane's Live in Japan are free association exercises, then Amongst Ourselves is a tonal Rorschach Test. The music probes the area where composition and improvisation dissolve into one another without losing impact or meaning. This disc would be of interest to all of those freebirds and avant-garde flagbearers. Moldy figs beware!
Track Listing
All About Joey; Blake?s Vision; Amongst Ourselves; Phone Queen; Boom Boom; The Great Matter; 7.5; Line; J.W.; Bidu; Skud. (Total Time: 62:22)
Personnel
Dave Ballou
trumpetDave Ballou: Trumpet; Tony Malaby: Tenor Saxophone; Michael Formanek; Jeff Williams: Drums.
Album information
Title: Amongst Ourselves | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: SteepleChase Records
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