BILL WARE
Sir Duke
Knitting Factory
KFW-295


I think the problem stems from the title. Too formal, too respectful, and damn, even if Duke himself was fastidious as a man, when the band was on, the audience showed sweat. (Ok, it was before my time, but I have the records.) Here, his duet partner guitarist Marc Ribot, who appears on every track, doesnt even get credited but inside the booklet. No matter, Ribot plays by the numbers here too. Mood Indigo has a nice lilt, but it is very circumspect. Ribot get in a couple of hard strums. Im assuming there was no choice but to rev it up a mite for It Dont Mean A Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing, and so it approaches MJQ territory. The train to Harlem receives a wonderfully wild intro, but reverts to form. Caravan prods the camels a bit, but ultimately the disc is stultifyingly pleasant. Ware has shown fire while playing in other folks bands. Please, Mr. Ware, gather some of the musicians who spark you when you do gigs, and cut a live disc, perhaps.


--Steven H. Koenig


Track Listing: 1. C Jam Blues; 2. I Got It Bad; 3. In A Sentimental Mood; 4. Mood Indigo; 5. It Dont Mean A Thing; 6. Solitude; 7. Caravan; 8. Come Sunday; 9. Take The A Train; 10. Sophisticated Lady


Personnel: Bill Ware, vibraphone; Marc Ribot, guitar