Music in the Key of Om

by Scott YanowJack DeJohnette has long been known as one of the most exciting and consistently stimulating drummers in jazz, one who always pushes ahead. Well, forget that musical description of DeJohnette, at least for this CD. DeJohnette is heard on a keyboard and, near the piece's conclusion, resonating bells, performing what is accurately described as "music for meditating, relaxation and healing." He has a droning tone going throughout this endless improvisation while his right hand plays long notes and brief, aimless melodies. One waits in vain for something -- anything -- interesting to occur, but it never does. To be fair, this is meant to be background music for one's deep thoughts. But after listening to this monotonous recital straight through, one will need a different form of "healing" music to recover from the mood that it casts! Even for new age music, this is incredibly dull.