PAPATAMUS REDUX

ARTISTS RECORDING COLLECTIVE (RELEASED JUNE 15, 2026)

Yusef Lateef, Ken McIntyre, Illinois Jacquet and other saxophonists have added the bassoon to their reed arsenal, but there are only a handful of players that have dedicated their careers to proving that the bassoon is more than the “clown of the orchestra,” as it has often been called. On Reunion, Michael Rabinowitz once again demonstrates how the expressive sound, fluid action and three octave range of the bassoon is ideally suited for jazz. After performing and recording together in Brooklyn three decades ago, Reunion connects Rabinowitz with pianist Michael Jefry Stevens for a set of six originals and one standard. Like most reunions, the two pick up where they left off — creating music that swings with a sense of adventure and intuitive musical interaction. Reunion starts off with the quirky boppish line of Rabinowitz’s “Burst,” on which he navigated the full range of the bassoon over the solid bass line of Zack Page, the rhythmic sensitivity of drummer Rick Dilling and the inventive support of Stevens. The quartet’s mastery of bop is even more pronounced on Steven’s “Sir Barry,” a tune dedicated to Barry Harris. The quartet explores more angular modern jazz on Steven’s tribute to Herbie Hancock “For Herbie,” an ideal musical vehicle for Steven’s mix of chordal and single note soloing and Dilling’s propulsive drumming. Stevens opens his composition “Autumn” with an atmospheric piano solo which unfolds into a tender ballad Rabinowitz embraces with his warm and lyrical tone. Another Steven’s original, “Covid Blues” is just that — a down-home 12-bar blues giving all players a chance to “sing” the blues. Rabinowitz and Dilling open the standard “Alone Together” on which Stevens echoes Rabinowitz’s lines before launching into a beautifully executed piano solo. The set concludes with another Rabinowitz original “Tommys Groove,” a hard driving tune with a strong bass line and a tricky head. Reunion is more than a testimony to Rabinowitz’s ability to make the bassoon swoon, swing and soar; it’s a testimony to two old friends connecting again to make timeless music.

BOTTOM LINE: Jazz bassoon may be an acquired taste, but jazz that swings with soul and sophistication is a staple for any appetite. That’s what Reunion is all about. Bassoonist Michel Rabinowitz reunites with pianist Michael Jefry Stevens after more than three decades to remind us about the timelessness of good jazz and the value of musical camaraderie.