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Vibraphonist Khan Jamal has a new quintet album, Balafon Dance, out on CIMP. He plays both vibes and African balafon, adding alto saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc and trumpeter Roy Campbell to a Philadelphia rhythm section of bassist Dylan Taylor and drummer Dwight James for an original program of jazz and African rhythms. (A balafon is a type of xylophone with wooden keys above resonating gourds.)
On the first piece, "Odean," (probably for fellow Philadelphian, saxophonist Odean Pope), Jamal plays vibes without vibrato, giving them a very percussive sound. He turns the vibrato back on for the next piece, "Just Us," where he has a rather abstract solo that concentrates on rhythm. Campbell carefully explores the tune's melody on his solo accompanied by Jamal's ringing tones, Taylor's rhythmic counter-melodies and James's dynamic fills. Moondoc's solo on this melodic piece has playing that reminds me a bit of Jackie McLean's sour tone; Moondoc even plays several bopish phrases in the middle.
"Principle" is an odd-metered tune that shows the influence of African rhythms. Jamal plays the same repeating rhythmic pattern underneath the other musicians, then has a vibes solo concentrating on rhythmic exploration. It's followed by an intense Moondoc solo. Campbell also explores the rhythm on his solo; his tone is a bit dry, but his playing is emotionally strong.
Jamal switches to the African balafon on the title track as well as on "African Rhythm Tongues." After a short solo balafon introduction, Jamal is joined by drums and bass, and then sax and trumpet. The tune has an interesting arrangement—the melody is played at a slower tempo than the rhythm part.
Also on the disc are versions of "Summertime" and a spiritual. The album ends with a coda of "One For Hamp" for the recently departed vibes pioneer.
Overall, this is quite a nice album. Some pieces here have fairly standard jazz structures; others show more of an African rhythm influence.
It's been five years between his last two CIMP releases; I hope he'll be able to record another album soon.
Release Date: November 2002
[available from Cadence/North Country]
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last update 28 March 2003