Back in 2002, Seamus Blake established himself firmly as tenor player of interest with a first-place finish in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. Since then, his rapidly growing discography, as well as collaborations with artists like John Scofield, suggests that the attention is well-deserved. The four originals, including Blake's "The Jupiter Line" and "Fear of Roaming," offer great melodies and solo work, while the standards offer opportunities for sensitive reinvention. "Darn That Dream" opens with a lush, unaccompanied tenor statement that suggests the influence of Sonny Rollins and Michael Brecker. The group then launches into a rendition filled with romance and originality, and doesn't have to overreach for either. The same sensitivity can be found in an arrangement of Debussy's "String Quartet in G Minor." This redesigned piece features light, dynamic playing from the rhythm section, while Blake reaches his altissimo with a sweetly classical intonation. Another virtuoso display of explosive melody from the piano crescendos into sax work that's all fire, before giving way to a gorgeous, minimalist bass solo. Blake demonstrates a wonderful ear for melody throughout. His solos are always developing, and the results are frequently as fun and catchy as any head. And while his agility and command will certainly inspire some awe, he plays with soul - never losing sight of the larger musical picture in a flurry of technical push-ups. His upbeat "Way Out of Willy" grooves along on a tight funk groove from the drums and piano. For his solo, Blake uses wah-wah and other effects to turn himself into a horn-guitar hybrid. Few musicians can pull this kind of thing off without descending into gimmickry, but Blake's raw virtuosity and artful sense of tone-play keep things cooking. Kikoski, who consistently matches the leader with ecstatic keyboard work and an incredible rhythmic vocabulary, rises to the challenge of the electric sax with a statement full of acoustic funk. Starting out simply, he alternates dizzying runs with intricate, foot-stamping beats that build to a fevered intensity, before Blake returns to cool things down. This is a quartet that makes every tune sound easy, and it sounds even better thanks to a superb recording job. As exhilarating as a shot of espresso, this album should rank among the best of 2009. Even more exciting will be seeing what comes next for Blake and his quartet, wherever they play. ~ by Warren Allen, AAJ.
Jazz Eyes, 005, 2008
Recorded February, 2007
during Italian Tour in:
Palermo (#101,102,205)
Senigallia (#103,202)
Cesenatico (#104,201,203,204)
Musicians:
Seamus Blake - Tenor
Saxophone
David Kikoski - Piano
Danton Boller - Bass
Rodney Green - Drums
CD1:
1. The Jupiter Line {Seamus
Blake} (11:46)
2. Way Out Of Willy {Seamus
Blake} (10:34)
3. String Quartet In G Minor
[Second Movement] {Claude Debussy} (16:54)
4. Fear Of Roaming {Seamus
Blake} (13:08)
Time: 52:22
CD2:
1. The Feeling Of Jazz {Duke
Ellington} (11:17)
2. Spacing {David Kikoski}
(10:07)
3. Ladeirinha {Djavan} (7:57)
4. Darn That Dream {Jimmy Van
Heusen, Eddie De Lange} (12:50)
5. Dance Me Home {John
Scofield} (10:19)
Time: 52:30
Total Time: 01:44:52
Credits:
Producer - Seamus Blake
Executive Producer - Paul
Siculiana, Toti Cannistraro
Recording - Maurizio Curcio
Mixing & Mastering -
Katsuhiko Naito
Cover Photo - Enza Tambora
Photos -
www.domenicoaronica.com
Note:
Discs ripped to WAV, excess
applause edited, tracks optimised, re-encoded & labeled.
Screens captured from
video; album Info, artwork & reviews added to post.
