Inversations

During the first decade of his recording career, drummer Ari Hoenig appeared on a number of CDs as an effective sideman, while this exciting studio date is only his second disc as a leader. Reunited with pianist Jean-Michel Pilc (a frequent collaborator) and featuring the promising bassist Johannes Weidenmüller, the trio launches into a truly introspective take of "Anthropology" that turns it inside out yet remains very accessible. The drummer contributed several originals arranged for the trio, including the mysterious, tense "Dark News," the dramatic "Farewell" (which builds from a simple repeated riff) and the lush, off-centered "WB Blues." Either tenor saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart or alto saxophonist Will Vinson add some spice on a few tracks, while the finale is a very melodic, unaccompanied percussion solo of the old gospel favorite "This Little Light of Mine," in which Hoenig also sings softly (though deliberately off-mic). One of the most promising jazz percussionists of his generation, Ari Hoenig is worth watching. ~ Ken Dryden