Great show on Saturday at the new Bird of Paradise in Ann Arbor, which looks like an improvement over the old location, particularly the larger space. I hope this will provide a little more incentive to book touring bands.

It was Steve Lacy's regular trio (Jean-Jacque Avenel on bass and John Betsch on drums) plus Roswell Rudd. I knew I was going to like Rudd when I saw the duct tape on his trombone (for attaching a little mic to the bell). I love the contrast between Lacy and Rudd. Lacy is a meticulous surgeon presenting thoughtful, precise, cleanly honed solos with that exquisite soprano tone of his. Rudd is an exuberant cab driver hollering out the window while speeding over lawns and through red lights. His sound is fat, flatulent, smearing and sliding.

I think the contrast stimulates everyone and produces powerful music. A couple of people I talked to didn't quite know what to make of Rudd and found him a little too much over the top. One example was a beautiful melancholy tune called "Longing," which began with a gorgeous Avenel solo perfectly complemented by Lacy. Rudd was offstage. When it was his turn to solo, he walked on holding a glass of water and gargling loudly. His solo whimsically quoted "It's Been a Long Long Time," Sentimental Journey," and "September Song." Definitely a change in mood.

They also did Bemsha Swing, The Bat, Someone's Knocking (with a very raucous Rudd solo), and a tune that Lacy said Rudd composed in Mali. Can't remember the name of this, but it was very exciting, with Rudd breaking into a little dance. Lacy, Avenel and Betsch smiled and joked quite a bit, which they didn't do when I saw them as a trio. I was smiling too.