Globetrotting You Are Here
2007, L’il Pumpkin Records
Globetrotting’s You Are Here documents a meeting by design. Brought together on the suggestion of a mutual friend, reed player Steve Gorn, percussionist Brian Melick, and bassist John Davey, whose artistic inclinations have led them to perform, compose, and teach the elements of Western and non-Western music and have matched their talents with musicians like banjoist Bela Fleck, jazz pianist Mike Holober and singer-songwriter Paul Simon, have transduced elastic energy to notes and tones on their first release as a trio.
“Be, Here, Now” opens like a recitative, with a shimmering cascade of metal followed by the hollow-sounding musings of Gorn on clarinet. The tune then lopes against the steadfast underpinning of Davey’s bass line. “Fair Trade” is a short ripple with a bouncy flair, enhanced by Gorn’s rustled melody on bansuri flute. “Udubambu” exemplifies the deft fingerwork of Melick on udo drum, which throbs as Gorn plays the role of dervish on flute. “Kafi,” written by vibist Karl Berger, has a cavernous feel to it. Much of the space is parted open by the plaintive, contrapuntal dialogue between Gorn and Davey.
The weight behind the 11 compositions of You Are Here is no weight at all. Gorn, Melick, and Davey provide space and quiet when needed but instinctively allow a measured amount of depth. www.stevegorn.com.
This article appears in May 2008.
