Purple Violets

by Ken DrydenDanish drummer Kresten Osgood was pleased with his small-group Purple Violets, but the young musician needed an added catalyst, so he recruited octogenarian Sam Rivers to travel from Florida to New York for these remarkable studio sessions. Joined by vibraphonist Bryan Carrott and bassist Ben Street, they open with a stimulating remake of Rivers' decades-old hard bop vehicle "Solace," showcasing the composer's still-potent tenor sax. Rivers switches to soprano sax for an unusual take of Duke Ellington's masterpiece from the 1920s, "The Mooche," which opens with Street's unaccompanied solo before venturing into more familiar territory. Osgood's delicate "Where to Go?" at first has a Satie-like simplicity, but loosens up as Rivers breaks free with his energetic tenor. Many of the remaining tracks are likely to be studio improvisations, of which the standout track is the free jazz vehicle "Moderation" (a feature for flute, drums, and bass). A second release is evidently planned from these sessions and it should prove to be as compelling as this highly recommended date.