Rob Wasserman

Rob Wasserman has a well-deserved rep as bassist extraordinaire, so it's more than fitting that Rounder should issue his three distinct albums in a package titled Trilogy. The simple title also evokes the simple names of the originals, Solo (1983), Duets (1988), and Trios (1994). The first disc is the easiest to praise without reservation for its virtuoso performance, but perhaps the most difficult to sit back and enjoy. In a way, it's like listening to a jazz bass solo for nearly half an hour (occasionally interrupted by the presence of a bow), which makes it a musician's effort for other musicians. Duets, on the other hand, allows -- from the average listener's perspective -- a more balanced approach, with Wasserman being joined by Lou Reed, Jennifer Warnes, Rickie Lee Jones, and others. This disc would be worth it if for no other reason than to hear Reed turn "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)" into a half-baked bit of proto-punk. Better, though less curious, are Warnes' simple "Ballad of the Runaway Horse" and Jones' "The Moon Is Made of Gold." Musically speaking, the last disc is the busiest and perhaps the most interesting because of the all-star lineup. Two Wilsons -- Brian and Carnie -- kick off Trios with "Fantasy Is Reality/Bells of Madness," but this is just a warmup for Elvis Costello's jazzy take on "Put Your Big Toe in the Milk of Human Kindness." There are also appearances from Grateful Dead alumni, including Bob Weir on "Easy Answers" and Jerry Garcia on "Zillionaire." Trilogy works well as a package, with each album feeding into the next and then circling back around again. For Wasserman fans, and anyone who ever wondered about the role the bass played in acoustic jazz, Trilogy will satisfy. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr., All Music Guide