Joey Baron - Raised Pleasure Dot

Drummer Joey Baron has played with such unorthodox types as John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, and Tim Berne, so it’s not surprising that his own sessions are equally diverse and ambitious. This date presents an unusual instrumental lineup and a freewheeling, constantly changing musical menu. Baron heads a trio with saxophone and trombone; the absence of bass, keyboards, or guitar results in intriguing voicings and the pieces are solely dependent on the interaction of his drumming with Ellery Eseklin’s saxophone and Steve Sewell’s trombone contributions. Elements of free jazz, contemporary funk, Afro-Latin, and even modern classical are incorporated into the mix, and it’s an outstanding example of Joey Baron’s scope and range as a composer, bandleader, and player. – Ron Wynn