The Wee Trio Ashes to Ashes: A David Bowie Intraspective (Bionic Records)
by Alex Henderson
Many jazz purists and bop snobs believe that rock and R&B material cannot possibly work in a jazz setting. But a variety of broad-minded improvisers, from The Bad Plus to the late Charles Earland, have demonstrated the fallacy of that thinking. On this ambitious CD, the Wee Trio (vibist James Westfall, bassist Dan Loomis and drummer Jared Schonig) has no problem putting an instrumental jazz spin on songs that span about 32 years of David Bowie’s career.
Ashes to Ashes doesn’t limit itself to major hits. Missing are “Fame”, “Let’s Dance”, “Ziggy Stardust” or “Changes.” Instead, Westfall, Loomis and Schonig make unlikely choices that range from “Queen Bitch” from 1971’s Hunky Dory to “Ashes to Ashes” from 1980’s Scary Monsters to the title track of 1970’s The Man Who Sold the World and also acknowledge more recent efforts, like “Sunday” from 2002’s Heathen and “Battle for Britain” from 1997’s Earthling. Anyone familiar with all of these songs is a real fan but even if one does know the songs, there is plenty of intrigue on Ashes on Ashes: the instrumentation is totally different, no vocals are used and a considerable amount of improvisation occurs, blending postbop with jazz-funk and, at times, avant garde elements.
For more information, visit theweetrio.com. This group is at Cornelia Street Café Sep. 4th. See Calendar.
