I cought up with Will right after he had performed a set with Headfake at Sully's Pub in Hartford, CT. He was packing away some equipment and I asked if he had a copy of his new CD, Native Lands, and he certainly did.We talked a bit and he agreed to do an interview that would appear on his website but his schedule has not yet permitted it to happen, however, after listening to the CD, I took time to write down some of my thoughts on Native Lands.
Thummmmp! the first audible sound from Native Lands, the 15 track CD produced by Will Calhoun and co produced by Mos Def. The track Afro Blue, undoubtedly, could have been kicked off several different ways, but Calhoun chose to make a bold and unmistakable statement, from the first percussive interaction with the listener, that he was in charge. He ushered in this Native Lands adventure with a musical monologue, then shared interesting conversations with several of his musical friends, like Pharoah Sanders on Tenor sax, Buster Williams, bass, Wallace Rodney, Trumpet and Orrin Evans, Piano.
When you close your eyes and listen to Calhoun’s rendition of Afro Blue it is way to easy to forget that you are not in the park on a nice summer evening listening to this great American art form - Jazz. The recording has a warm live feel. The only thing missing is the applause. Calhoun should rest assured that most listeners would applaud the performances and musicianship on Native Lands.
A musical passport not only would allow you to travel on a percussive journey through the many diverse cultural instrumentation which is a strong part of Native Lands, but would get you a first class seat on a trip between the use of traditional and modern electronic instruments and loops. The keepers of time, thus, Time Keepers or drummers, as they are also known, desire to be heard, but not always in a traditionally collective way, with other voices speaking at the same time. Some get an opportunity to speak and soon find that they have nothing worthwhile to say but not Will Calhoun. He has relevant out reaching musical conversations on tunes like Wayne Shorter’s Nefertiti and Calhoun’s own composition Dorita. He plays around the melody with such awareness that if all other instruments were muted, leaving only his drums, you would still hear the melody tapped into your mind as you simultaneously experienced the various percussive textures created by this master drummer.
Many a drummer have stepped to the forefront and attempted to hold down the duties of band leader and 1st chair with not much success. However, Calhoun seems at home in both positions. Whether performing solo at drum clinics; duo work with bassist Doug Wimbish, collectively known as Head>>Fake; or his songwriting and skilled performances with the well known rock quartet, Living Colour, Calhoun shares himself through his drumming and shares the spotlight willingly with others as well. Kevin Eubanks, Musical Director for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno joins Calhoun on the composition “Pyramids” and Antoine Roney on Soprano Saxophone blows on the Elvin Jones composition “Three Card Molly.”
On Native Lands, Calhoun goes from being serious to playful and back to serious again with his musical moods and statements. “Push” a duo written and performed with guitarist Stanley Jordan is bright with both Stanley and Will working, pushing each other and as a result, the energy created emanates from the CD.
The title track, “Native Lands” pairs Will with Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. This selection is enjoyable both on the CD and the DVD, which captures the actual visual performance. Will Calhoun and Charles Kliment produced the DVD.
“Native Lands” is certainly a milestone for Calhoun, who methodically has been building a drumming legacy. Well done.
Written by Lionel Crawford.
© 2005 LCM Productions
Use by permission. All Rights Reserved.
