Paul Motian Garden of Eden Review

This is Paul Motian's second recording for ECM since his return to the label in 2005 after a long absence. Garden of Eden is a typical Motian date; highly nuanced and thoughtful, combining bop tunes, Broadway standards and his somewhat abstract originals in a pleasing package which is both stimulating and easy on the ears.

After his tenure with Bill Evans, Motian seldom used a piano in his own groups, and the group assembled for this session consists of two saxophones, three guitars, electric bass and drums. The fourteen relatively short pieces (including gorgeous renditions of Mingus's "Pithecanthropus Erectus" and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat") are fluid, lyrical conversations between various combinations of guitars, saxophones and bass, all of which coil sinuously around a theme, approaching it from various perspectives, while Motian lays down a foundation of rhythmic colours.

Elegant, mature work from a jazz master.