The Owl Head Shoe Horn would like to warmly—but not too warmly—welcome you to a brand new and long-awaited-by-absolutely-no-one feature: Random Record Reviews.
When I attended college, back around the time of the Magna Carta, I wrote record reviews for the student newspaper. I just about got myself killed. In my mind I was calling a spade a spade, but, in the words of Bob Dylan, I might have used a little too much force. There are certain bands and local sound guys you might not want to criticize too pointedly, even if you’re only half serious.
Since no one reads this, my life is probably not in any danger. Plus, I’ll likely be reviewing records no one cares about. I feel safe.
The first entry in this series is a record called “Gateway” by three dudes who might have collectively called themselves Gateway (my research is unclear on this point). Whatever they may or may not have been collectively called, their real names are the kind that don’t require much introduction, at least to music aficionados. Two of them played with Miles and the other is a legendary guitarist. Jack DeJohnette is especially familiar to me from my drum dork childhood; he was regularly featured in the pages of Modern Drummer magazine, I think maybe for a ride cymbal that bore his name? Oh how I looked forward to the monthly arrival of Modern Drummer magazine. Oh how I hate myself.
“Gateway” is on the ECM label, an imprint that has become weirdly intriguing to me lately. I spent most of my life thinking the only good jazz is on Blue Note (except for the Coltrane records on Impulse!). That was—how shall we say?—idiotic. And I suppose I knew it. I guess I just like simple ideas because they hurt my brain less. I mean, who could blame me? Think of how much easier our lives would be if the only good jazz records were on Blue Note. It’s a halcyon vision of a better world. But, alas, it’s not the case.
This record is good. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the kind of analysis you come here for, the kind that makes you see and hear things anew. OK, goodnight!
No really though, it’s good. It’s a groove record in a lot of ways, something that feels a bit like a mixtape from a good hiphop producer. Not something that’s gonna change your life, but sometimes that’s for the best. It’s casual. Perhaps not casual to the guys who made it, but casual to the guy writing this.
Then again, I haven’t heard it in a few months. I started writing this post around Labor Day, and now it’s almost Christmas. In the time since I started writing, I got obsessed with Bill Evans.
Stay tuned for more on that. I hope it’s as riveting as this.
THE OWL HEAD SHOE HORN 
Adding to my Apple Music library now…
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