When he does venture outside the regular forum, it's going to be for something special. Take for instance last year's The Bass & the Bird Pond, the saxophonist's exceptional debut recording as a leader. Culled from a couple of local live shows in late '96 with widely acclaimed New York downtowners Tim Berne (alto sax) and Michael Formanek (bass), and one-of-a-kind Bay Area expat (now living in Gotham) Elliot Kavee (drums, cello), the disc illustrates the kind of world-class company Raskin keeps. It also underscores his strength as a composer, which is synonymous with his prowess as an improviser. Invariably, Raskin's improvisations are connected to, but not bound by, the harmonic development of his extended compositions, which come across with an indissoluble yet elastic through-line, an internal logic that propels the music forward from the first to last notes. While evading predictability, every phrase makes perfect sense -- a rare feat that often requires great foresight in the planning, then a greater letting-go in the playing. It's an exacting art, and Jon Raskin may be its Zen master.
