A very
different group than the sort of saxophone quartet you might remember from the
80s – one that's filled with fire, and really shows the evolution of the reed
ensemble over the past few decades! All players here are very skilled
improvisers on their own – Dave Rempis, Ken Vandermark, Mars Williams, and Nick
Mazzarella – and they come together at a level that still holds onto some of
the restructured approach of the sax quartet, but which also feels free to open
up, too – so that some passages have this very improvised vibe, yet never in a
way that has the players getting in each others' way or getting too far off
course – always with this amazing sense of cohesion that shows how great all
the musicians can work together. Instrumentation includes alto, tenor, soprano,
sopranino, and baritone saxes – plus clarinet and bass clarinet as well. Titles
include "Detroit Fields", "The Rush", "Broken Record
Fugue", "Burn Unit", and "Remnant". ~ Dusty Groove
BRIAN
CHARETTE – ALPHABET CITY
Sweet sweet
Hammond from the great Brian Charette – a player who's easily becoming one of
our favorite organists in contemporary jazz! Brian's got this way of spinning
out a long line with effortless ease – a soaring approach to his instrument
that takes us back to a space between Larry Young and Don Patterson in the 60s
– set up in a very lean trio setting that just features Will Bernard on guitar
and Rudy Royston on drums! Bernard's a great player in the setting too – really
able to leap, soar, and carve out the right sort of sounds alongside the organ
– this balance of groove and melody that's really illuminates the record, while
Royston drives the whole thing along with his deft drums. Titles include
"Sharpie Moustache", "East Village", "Detours",
"Avenue A", "White Lies", "The Vague Reply", and
"Hungarian Major". ~ Dusty
Groove
MIGUEL
ATWOOD-FERGUSON – LIBRARY SELECTION
A beautiful
record from Miguel Atwood Ferguson – an artist we first came to love for his
work with the Carlos Nino spiritual jazz scene on the west coast – really
stretching out on his own as a leader! Miguel plays viola, violin, and cello on
the record – plus some piano as well – and he works here in this warm, spacious
style that's almost like 70s ECM, but a lot warmer and spiritual too – that
kind of energy that we know from his projects with Nino, but delivered here in
a more personal mode. Ferguson's strings and piano are mixed with bits of
Fender Rhodes, percussion, bass, guitar, and even some "nature and space
sounds" contributed by Nino – and overall, the record has this laidback,
organic quality that's very cosmic and powerful. Titles include
"Magnolia", "Great Galactic", "Always",
"Kazaru", "Did You Know", and "Computer Face/Pure
Being". ~ Dusty Groove
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