Warne Marsh

It Does Means Alot Because It Does Got that Swing

     

Despite his always "quiet" cool tone, this is, of all Marsh's work I've heard, the most hard-swinging set of tunes, given the scant piano outlining of the chords, with the only possible rival being the perenially recognized Sonny Rollins "Way Out West" tour-de-force, having no piano at all. Warsh plays on these tracks an almost "angry cool bop." It just swings so hard, like Rollins on the "... West" sides; every note flipping along angular, perfect, just-so accented, no other possible phrase immaginable in the line. Only Mulligan, Konitz, and Griffin on some tracks with Thelonious, can match the nearly virtual full-orchestral power of 'you'll never tire of playing" this Marsh album. Unlike the admittedly great Stan Getz, no musical thought is forced or bombastic, or comprised of adagio, repetitive machine-like roteness. A truely inspiring masterpiece.