RALPH ALESSI AND MODULAR THEATRE
Hissy Fit
Love Slave
lvslv102

Ralph Alessi has worked extensively with Michael Cain (the excellent Circa trio with Peter Epstein on ECM from 1996), and Steve Coleman, among others, and Coleman’s influence is writ large on Hissy Fit. Besides penning the liner notes for this disc (a brief and rather inscrutable essay on Music and Honey Bees), several of the tunes (particularly "Irony" and "The Mentor") would not sound out of place on Coleman’s earlier M-Base recordings. Vocalist Carl "Kokayi" Walker has also appeared on several of Coleman’s recent recordings for RCA France. However, there’s enough going on in the debut recording by Modular Theatre to convince me that Alessi is finding his own way in the universe of musical possibilities. The opener, "Irony" features a somber ‘cello figure in 5/4, over which Endsley plays a very minimal 4/4: a pleasantly disorienting rhythmic effect. Unfortunately, there’s not much in terms of possibilities for musical interaction for Alessi to work with, so his solo seems needlessly acrobatic. Not surprisingly, the set-closing reprise with Kokayi’s recitation works much better. "My Worst Habit" starts with free-form improvising for ‘cello, trumpet, soprano sax and odd metallic percussives. Roberts and Endsley establish a groove, over which Kokayi recites, declaims, and murmurs his poetry. "The Mentor" works in a similar fashion, only the groove is deeper and the improvising is considerably more interesting and interactive. Here, Kokayi effectively melds poetry slam theatrics, and rapping with the sort of scatty vocalese I associate with Jon Hendricks and Eddie Jefferson. I am particularly enamored of Peter Epstein’s playing throughout this disc. On tenor ("The Mentor"), and particularly on alto ("Ornette’s Advice"), Epstein’s tone has an arresting vocal quality reminiscent of players such as Jan Garbarek and Charlie Mariano. Endsley’s drumming sounds a bit tentative for the first minute or so of Epstein’s free-bopping "Ornette’s Advice," but he settles in nicely and uncorks an explosive solo at the end of the tune. Endsley also contributes some fine trumpet on "Litost," a haunting, somber chamber-jazz composition. Hank Roberts is a bit of a ringer. Along with Epstein, he contributes several aurally arresting moments to Hissy Fit. His rip-roaring, emotive cello work on "Ice Man" reminded me why I enjoyed those early Bill Frisell Quartet albums so much. This is a very clean live recording of an interesting young band. Though Alessi and Modular Theatre seem to lack direction, they manage to investigate some interesting places on this disc. Those looking for a new angle on the whole poetry and jazz schtick would do well to check this disc out.

Dave Wayne

Track Listing: 1. Irony; 2. My Worst Habit; 3. The Mentor; 4. Ice Man; 5. Litost; 6. Ornette’s Advice; 7. Irony (reprise)

Personnel: Ralph Alessi, trumpet; Hank Roberts, cello; Peter Epstein, saxophones; Carl "Kokayi" Walker, voice (Tracks 2-4, 7); Shane Endsley, drums (Tracks 1-4, 6-7), trumpet (Track 5)