The new double-album from Junius Paul is yet another in a string of superb releases in 2019 from International Anthem. Ism drops on Friday and it reveals the bassist to be not only an extraordinary musician, but also a sharp band-leader. The music here is jazz, but the breadth of what's here is impressive, and Paul's skills at leading others through this material is something to be applauded.
I thought of writing something like, "Junius Paul plays the bass like a guy who plays lead guitar in a hard rock band" in an attempt to describe the virtuosity on display here, but I realize that would be selling Ism short. The album is, yes, a showcase for Junius Paul's bass-playing, but it is also an exploration of styles, from the vigorous opener "You are Free To Choose" (with Vincent Davis on drums, Justin Dillard on piano, and Corey Wilkes on horns), to the hip hop-flavored "Baker's Dozen" (with Isaiah Spencer on drums, Rajiv Halim on sax, and Jim Baker on synthesizer), and each cut, and every one in between, is anchored by Junius Paul's dexterity on the bass.
Still, for the nimble melodic leaps apparent all over the selections on Ism, certain numbers here stand out. "Spocky Chainsey Has Re-Emerged" ventures, over the course of twenty minutes, through territory that feels familiar to any fan of hard bop. And while there's a real Mingus-like improvisational sense at work here, Junius Paul's playing has the bounce of that of Jymie Merritt or Jimmy Garrison. Paul plays as if he's possessed in spots, however he also holds this entire epic together. The track, naturally, is the center-piece of this epic-length album.
On "Sprouts", Paul allows label-mate and co-producer Makaya McCraven to show off his drum-work. The tune slips back into a groove, with the horns here nearly driving things. McCraven's hits on the kit are frenzied, and here Junius Paul uses the bass to sort of carry this tune through the storm. Elsewhere, on the mournful "Ma and Pa", Paul's work is like that of a cellist, the bow on the strings of the bass creating a sad moan that is as elegant and precise as his playing on other album tracks is full of fire. Paul's ability to modulate is impressive, and Ism would be masterpiece enough if the whole thing was just an updating of hard bop forms. As it is, the album mixes bits of that style up with fusion-y passages, and more straightforward and languid compositions.
For all the variety here, there's some comfort in the familiar thrills of "Paris", a hard bop epic featuring just Junius Paul, drummer Makaya McCraven, and Marquis Hill on trumpet. There are fiery passages here, but what warms the heart, frankly, is how natural this sounds. The players here cut loose with real fervor, even as they are, in some perhaps unspoken way, honoring the traditions of the form. This is a composition with real musicality, but it's also a tune that's played with the enthusiasm of musicians who understand the vitality of an earlier generation's art, and how precisely that can be carried forward into this new century. In that sense, Ism is a showcase for Junius Paul, as well as an epic-length reminder of how varied and durable jazz remains as an art-form.
Ism is out on Friday via International Anthem.
More details on Junius Paul via the official website.
[Photos: Andrea Falcone]