Who's Listening?
Drumplay

Drumplay calls their works "rhythmprovisations." Why mess with perfection? This reviewer can't think of a better way to describe the shape-shifting outfit's sound. Weaving intriguing worldbeat sounds, jazz, afro-latin percussion and beatnik poetry, Drumplay sounds like the city's psyche at night. Like a raw, complex bundle of nerve endings on fire with pain and joy and ideas suffering at the hands of ignorance. Like the bruised concrete, and the unfiltered id. And when they performed with the late Cuyahoga County Poet Laureate Daniel Thompson -- as they begin and end Who's Listening? with joint performances of "Grief Thief" and "Forgive Us Our Exploits," respectively -- they were absolutely magical. If you witnessed them back then, well, you know.

Though Thompson's input is sorely missed, Drumplay is certainly a more confident jazz act as a result. James Onysko (bells/ djembe/ vibraphone) and company maintain the level of musical and intellectual integrity on this new release -- and they honor Thompson's legacy in the process. Onysko has brought several new Drumplayers on board for Who's Listening? including J. Scott Franklin (he of Lost State of Franklin) on trumpet. The results are nothing less than essential late night listening. "Mo ZAM" and "Sandy Chanty Samba" feel like jazz club epiphanies with drum-and-horn interplay that could only be organically grown. "Walking With Daniel" feels like a eulogy for Thompson, with its Chet Baker histrionics and shuffling flair. And the extended "Who's Listening?" -- nearly 20 minutes -- borders on the meditative.

F.F.O (For fans of): Material's Hallucination Engine, Kerouac, Playboy Jazz Fest (circa 1979), french press coffee and Bombay Sapphire... neat.

Drumplay performs at the Borders Books & Music in Solon this Tuesday, December 9 from 6 - 9PM. Borders is located at 6025 Kruse Dr., Solon. Call 440-542-9480 or visit http://www.myspace.com/drumplay to learn (and hear) more.

There's also a Drumplay Hand Drum workshop with James Onysko and Warren Levert of the group presented at ConsciousNest on Sundays from 3-5PM ("stragglers welcomed") Starting Sun 12/7 at 20150 Lakeshore Blvd., Euclid. Runs 12/14, 12/21 and 12/28. Each workshop ends with a refresher of material covered, with a full review at the end of each four-week session. Call 692-0325 for more info.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band's CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107

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