Lost In a Dream

Pretty much any album that drummer Paul Motian appears on is worth checking out. This extraordinary musician is a poet of percussive texture; he can swing fiercely, and he’s a master of falling-down-the-stairs rhythms. On 2010’s Lost In a Dream, he teams up with tenor saxophonist Chris Potter and pianist Jason Moran to play nine originals and a cover of Irving Berlin’s “Be Careful It’s My Heart.” The absence of bass sharpens the listener’s attention, and there are many details to enjoy on this album, which was recorded live at the legendary Village Vanguard. Motian often writes ballads that are striking for their lyricism, flexibility, and sense of abstraction. “Mode VI” opens Lost In a Dream and the song nicely displays the band’s approach to mellow material, whereas “Ten” brings out the trio’s edgier side. The group gives a sensitive, soulful reading of the Berlin tune, while “Drum Music” features zigzagging sax and piano lines and truly wild drumming. Most of “Abacus”— a studio version of the piece appeared on Motian’s excellent 1979 release, Le Voyage — is taken up with a drum solo, and it’s a great one.