Marcin Oleś | Ornette On Bass | Not Two Records

Oles’ 12-track CD is a tribute to Ornette Coleman, creating versions of the alto saxophonist’s combo compositions using only his bass. Oles may be the first bassist to record a whole solo CD of Coleman themes. But considering many of the heads harken back to the country blues string band tradition, a bull fiddle would seem to be ideal for the task. You’ll certainly believe that once you’re heard the Krakow-based bassist traverse the tunes. For instance on “Humpty Dumpty”, he speeds up the tempo a bit, yet here and throughout the disc he allows the basic song-like quality of Coleman’s themes to come out. At times as well, his vibrations are such that plucks and the echoing malleable harmonic tones almost sound like two basses. — Ken Waxman Continue reading