Vade Mecum

Afer reading about Bill Dixon and what he
said on this bulletin board I decided to purchase
a Bill Dixon album. The local Tower records
didn't have "In Italy", but it had "Mecum" I
and II and "Sisyphus". I got Vade Mecum I just
on the theory that if they made a volume II,
then volume I must been pretty good. It also had
some really good musicians on it, so I figured,
how could I go wrong??

Not surprisingly, I liked the album but it took
a few listens for me too really get something
out of it. At first, all I heard was the druming.
Which was interesting - but not what I was
expecting. Don't get me wrong - my stereo works
just fine - I'm talking about "hearing".
Anyway, the trumpet playing on much of the
album was very soft - due to BD's use of
the Flueglehorn so the horn lines just kind
of faded into the background for me. kind of
a reverse Don Chery effect (his trumpet lines
seemed to just stand out). Then I started
to hear the two basses, which I enjoyed, but
I still wasn't "getting" the trumpet part. The
bass playing was pretty percussive and the
drumming was not, as per BD's instructions (see
the liner notes). Soon I started to hear the
"breathed" tones from BD and how they just
seemed to blend into the music. It seems to
me that the trumpet/fluegle lines really
do kind of stand on top of the other stuff.
There was a blending that took me a while to
hear, but I am quite glad I took the time
to hear it.

anyway, those are my initial thoughts on
listening to Vade Mecum. I'm really enjoying
the music.

-fabio

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