Solid Action (Ken Vandermark album) explained

Solid Action
Type:studio
Artist:Ken Vandermark
Cover:Solid_action_Vandermark_cover.jpeg
Released:1994
Recorded:May 29 & 30, 1994
Studio:Acme Recording Studio, Chicago
Genre:Jazz
Length:61:12
Label:Platypus
Chronology:Ken Vandermark
Prev Title:Caffeine
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Standards
Next Year:1995

Solid Action is an album by the American jazz reedist Ken Vandermark, recorded in 1994 and released on Platypus. It was the second record by the Vandermark Quartet, which includes bassist Kent Kessler, drummer Michael Zerang and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Scanlan replacing former guitarist Todd Colburn.[1]

Reception

In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek states: "Listening to this music now is breathtaking; it feels shamanic and brave and it engages the listener immediately with the force of both conviction and humor."

The Penguin Guide to Jazz claims that "Solid Action is Vandermark's first shot at greatness, with Scanlan a tremendously exciting figure on all of three of his instruments."[2]

The DownBeat review by Bill Shoemaker states: "This band's second outing is a persuasive statement of Vandermark's ability to harness rock's gut-rending intensity to post-Coleman jazz's quest for liberating new structures."[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Ken Vandermark except as indicated

  1. "Tasteless" – 4:14
  2. "Catch 22" – 15:32
  3. "Le Saucisse de Fer" (Michael Zerang) – 6:40
  4. "Bucket" – 14:36
  5. "Leadfoot" – 5:30
  6. "For What It Is" (Todd Colburn) – 5:24
  7. "Let's Talk About Death" (Kent Kessler) – 9:16

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Original Liner Notes by John Corbett
  2. Book: Cook, Richard. Richard Cook (journalist). Brian Morton . Brian Morton (Scottish writer) . The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. 6th. The Penguin Guide to Jazz. 2002. Penguin. London. 0140515216. 1487.
  3. Shoemaker, Bill. Solid Action review. DownBeat September 95: page 46. Print.