Pianist Craig Taborn records prolifically, but not as often under his own name. Thus when he headlines a record you know it’s a project important to him. Dream Archives puts the maverick musician at the head of a new triad that includes bandleaders as eclectic, adventurous, and amazingly talented as himself: cellist Tomeka Reid and percussionist Ches Smith. This gives Taborn the opportunity to paint four of his compositions – plus a pair of songs by late fellow travelers Geri Allen and Paul Motian – in colors he’s alluded to but never used before.
“Feeding Maps to the Fire” swirls and spins like a Maypole in the wind, with Smith’s prancing percussion and Reid’s keening bow adding drama to the leader’s chamber jazz tune. “Enchant” puts Reid in front, both arco and pizzicato, with the support of dreamy cymbal splashes, quiet synth beds, and a meditative melody that lets each player relax as they bring it to life. “Dream Archive” begins by playfully tripping over its melody like a clown in a silent film, Smith and Taborn practically duetting on xylophone and piano while Reid subtly fills in the gaps. But by the end the trio lunges, feints, and dances with each other in expert formation, taking what seemed at first to be chaos and turning it into choreography.
For those seeking more conventional jazz, the trio’s take on Allen’s “When Kabuya Dances” emphasizes a bluesy tune and a tighter arrangement, showing us that the musicians can play it (relatively) straight when it’s appropriate. But in toto, Dream Archive showcases a brilliant composer, pianist, and bandleader pushing himself and his players beyond what’s familiar to them, creating a sonic world unique only to this collective.
