Wet Streets

Chronique

Of the three organ combo CD's Heid has recently released he considers this his best. It's different in that he employs two saxophonists, Scott Peterson and Russ Miller. They're excellent foils, for each other and the leader. Add drummer Randy Gelespie, an uncrowned king of the kit, and you have a recording unique unto itself, sporting an ultimately provocative approach beyond that of any other B-3 date you may have ever heard.
On this project Heid also sounds out-of-body, even more animated. His approach is more as a space filler, comping and urging his front liners with pungent, stinging lines that swell and expand. In a more orchestral fashion, he supplies the foundation to this rich, meaty stew. All of the eleven compositions are written by Heid, and they're far from typical chitlin laced groove biscuits, going past standard musical nomenclature. You'l hear latin informed numbers, straight ahead or hard funk variations, slow and spooky or hard bop flagwavers, and undeniably bluesy and soulful underpinnings. This group attacks the music, Peterson's wailing tenor solos and Miller's prismatic diversity, shining whether on alto, tenor, soprano or flute. Their contributions make the music happen, especially when they play unison lines as on "Covert Ops." The most impressive piece is the modal, ultra-modern "Tsun Hun" evoking images of Heid's influences, Larry Young and McCoy Tyner. Heid is like greased lightning on his runs, the saxes grind, Peterson on soprano reaches for the stratosphere, and the sound goes way beyond the norm. Heid also has a penchant for dedicational titles like "400,000 Miles" (he's the Guiness record holder for miles hitch-hiked, ) "This Little Puppy" (for his recently deceased Corgi, ) the out-and-out groove number "Big John" (for Big John Patton, ) and the hard bopper "Rubber Marshmallows." Heid is going to demand your attention before much more time passes. His refusal to be strident and predictable is his greatest quality, but he's also a undeniable virtuoso, and as imaginative a musician as there is out there. Highly recommended.

© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo