Dave Douglas: Magic Triangle & Leap of Fath

Trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas has just re-released two of his best early records, the entire output of a short-lived quartet that included tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, bassist James Genus, and drummer Ben Perowsky. Both records featured all-Douglas programs that show how his compositional style was developing. As an example of how he digested the approaches of earlier masters and came out singing his own songs, consider “Barrage,” from Magic Triangle, which kicks off with Douglas playing a line based on wide intervallic leaps reminiscent of Steve Lacy, while Potter solos, before they switch parts. The last time through finds both horns playing the line while drummer Perowsky solos, a trick reminiscent of Wayne Shorter’s classic recording of “Nefertiti” with Miles Davis. Leap of Faith from a year later is even better. The compositions are stronger, and while the individual contributions are outstanding throughout both records (this is one of those groups that seems an all-star lineup in retrospect), the level of group interplay on Faith elevates it. Fifteen years after the fact, it’s doesn’t take a “leap of faith” to think people will be coming back to these sounds for a long time to come.