The Charlie Watts/Jim Keltner Project (Cyber Octave)
Rating: 6 out of 7
By Ken Micallef
What do two of the most famous drummers in the word do when you get them alone in one room? Make one heck of a racket, that's what. Actually, this joint effort between ramshackle groove ace Charlie Watts and studio master Jim Keltner is more a study in creative balderdash than egotistic drumming prowess, a result of the two leaders' low-key drumming styles and selfless talent.
Naming each of the nine tracks here after a famous jazz drummer, the music is both explosive and ruminative, sort of a Zen-filled endeavor, combining African percussion and rhythms with otherworldly (at times ghastly) sonics. The album project began when Keltner--who besides drums plays something called "guitar compost," a mix of weird samples and oddball percussion--created sequenced patterns and then gave them to Watts, who took them to Paris where he added drum beats, African vocals, bass, and keyboards (and a little help from Jagger and Richards). The music is mostly percussion, but by adding layer upon layer of sounds to Keltner's initial sequences, Watts creates something that is greater than the individual parts would suggest.
"Art Blakey" captures the primal fury of the great Jazz Messenger with tribal rhythms, whistles and some distinctly garbage-can percussion sounds. Serengeti reggae plains' funk imbues "Kenny Clarke" with a loping groove, as well as farm tool sounds, violin, and jazz trash beats. "Tony Williams" is a surreal funereal dirge that recalls Tom Waits with a drunken lounge band. "Airto" is one of the most musical of the tracks, perfectly recalling the Brazilian beauty of the master percussionist with a pulsing groove and breezy accordion melody. Finally, "Elvin Jones" spins an African vocal over a jazz trio that culminates in a long piano solo.
A unique album from two musicians who can play whatever they please, The CW/JK Project is wonderful in an organic, primal, and totally weird way.
All recordings courtesy of Higher Octave Records. ΓÇ£Roy HaynesΓÇ¥ written by C. Watts, J. Keltner; courtesy of OOOEEE Music (ASCAP). ΓÇ£AirtoΓÇ¥ written by C. Watts, J. Keltner, E. Sourdeix; courtesy of Promopub B.V. (PRS/ASCAP). ΓÇ£Elvin SuiteΓÇ¥ written by C. Watts, J. Keltner, B. Chaplin; courtesy of Promopub B.V. (PRS/ASCAP).
