Garden of Eden (album)

Garden of Eden
Studio album by Paul Motian
Released	2006
Recorded	November 2004
Genre	Jazz
Length	56:35
Label	ECM
Producer	Manfred Eicher
Paul Motian chronology
I Have the Room Above Her (2004) Garden of Eden (2004) On Broadway Vol. 4 or The Paradox of Continuity (2005)

Garden of Eden is an album by jazz drummer Paul Motian recorded in 2004 and released on the ECM label in 2005.^[1]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "Motian has been on a creative and compositional tear, and has been since the mid-'80s. This set is ambitious, full of humor, charm, warmth, and grace; it sings, whispers, talks, and at times it shouts; ultimately it offers listeners an intimate look at the complexity and beauty in the continually evolving soundworld of an artist who is a true musical giant".^[2]

Steve Cardenas and Jakob Bro stalk the left and right perimeters of the stereo picture, while Ben Monder hews to the centre, as does Jerome Harris. Tony Malaby and Chris Cheek are, respectively, centre left and centre right. Motian’s detailed drums and cymbals are everywhere, embellishing solo statements and driving the ensemble forward in his stubborn, unpredictable way. ^[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Paul Motian except as indicated

1. "Pithecanthropus Erectus" (Charles Mingus) - 7:06
2. "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" (Mingus) - 4:56
3. "Etude" - 5:21
4. "Mesmer" - 4:39
5. "Mumbo Jumbo" - 3:34
6. "Desert Dream" (Chris Cheek) - 3:18
7. "Balata" (Steve Cardenas) - 3:39
8. "Bill" (Jerome Kern) - 3:04
9. "Endless" - 3:30
10. "Prelude 2 Narcissus" - 3:05
11. "Garden of Eden" - 4:09
12. "Manhattan Melodrama" - 4:43
13. "Evidence" (Thelonious Monk) - 3:31
14. "Cheryl" (Charlie Parker) - 2:00

Personnel

• Paul Motian - drums
• Chris Cheek - tenor saxophone, alto saxophone
• Tony Malaby - tenor saxophone
• Jakob Bro, Steve Cardenas, Ben Monder - guitar
• Jerome Harris - bass

References