The Ben Thomas Group featuring Eric Likkel – Treskaidekaphobia (Thomas, vibes & timbales; Likkel, clarinet & bass clarinet; Laura Caviani, piano; Clipper Anderson, bass; John Bishop, drums; Tom Bergersen, congas) Origin Records

by | Nov 4, 2005 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

The Ben Thomas Group featuring Eric Likkel –
Treskaidekaphobia  (Thomas, vibes & timbales; Likkel, clarinet
& bass clarinet; Laura Caviani, piano; Clipper Anderson, bass; John
Bishop, drums; Tom Bergersen, congas) Origin Records 82448,  57:12
****:

Ten tracks here are originals by Thomas and several of them have to do
with animals. Eric Likkel is credited with the 11th track.  Don’t
let the album title throw you – it’s not indicative of a far-out loft
jazz trip but simply the medical term for fear of the number 13. The
title track is indeed in 13/4 time – shades of Don Ellis and Dave
Brubeck. The tunes are fun and varied with sometimes only two or three
members of the sextet playing on a particular one.  The emphasis
on the clarinet is nice too, instead of the expected sax or trumpet.
The combination of vibes and clarinet is a nice one not frequently
heard in jazz and most welcome to these ears. The Latinesque percussion
of timbales and congas lend a nice spice to the more up-tempo tunes,
and are well captured in both fidelity and balance with the rest of the
group.

Tracks: Things Happen to Bears, Where Did Those Chickens Come From?,
Daring to Find Meaning in Flight, Lockesteps, Triskaidekaphobia, The
Surface of an Emerald, The Hat of the Bearded Lizard, Patrolling the
Perimeter, Black, Welcome Rain, Waiting.

– John Henry

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