Ships With Tattooed Sails

Album Review

Jewels and Binoculars have explored the repertoire of Bob Dylan from their collective trio's perspective on two previous releases titled Floater and the self-titled Jewels and Binoculars. They continue their special salute to the great poet with a third release dedicated solely to some of Dylan's most inspired but rarely heard songs. Titled, Ships with Tattooed Sails, the 12-track CD features the collective trio of Lindsey Horner, Michael Vatcher, and Michael Moore with special guest guitarist Bill Frisell combining their instrumental prowess on such great songs as "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue,""If You See Her, Say Hello," and "Spirit on the Water." Rather than guitar, voice, and harmonica, the instrumentation relies on the clarinet, bass clarinet, and alto saxophone for the melody, the acoustic bass for the harmony, and Michael Vatcher's wide variety of percussion instruments for textural variation. Bill Frisell's special brand of jazz guitar playing adds an incredible dimension to "Blind Willie McTell," the anti-war protest "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" and the unforgettable "Gates of Eden." One of the true tests of a great song is its ability to transcend genres. Jewels and Binoculars use the tried and true folk song forms as the starting point for their improvisational flights and have transformed Bob Dylan's unforgettable blues and folk riffs into a respectable collection of jazz moments, all the while keeping the power of his lyrics and images fresh in your mind.