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Cooper-Moore is best known as a wild and woolly post-Cecil Taylor pianist, but he’s also carved out a niche on “primitive” instruments, tapping into the primordial source of blues-based traditions and knocking it on its ass. That’s his focus on Digital Primitives, the eponymous debut by his trio with Israeli reedist Assif Tsahar (who released the record on his Hopscotch imprint) and former Chicagoan Chad Taylor. There are certainly moments where improvisation directs the show, but the most beguiling material employs some heavy groove action.
- Since there are always too many records and never enough time to write about them all, I’ve decided to start including daily playlists (a la Steve Smith). I won’t bother listing all the crappy records I wade through, just the ones I’d recommend; feel free to make inquiries about any of them in the comments section below. In fact, feel free to use that anytime you have a question or something’s rubbing you the wrong way.
