Long form Milesian majesty
Of Canadian, Romanian and Armenian descent raised in Argentina later living in New York, trumpeter Michael Sarian beams in on a very absorbing whispery electro jazz-rock recording that offers up a pair of exceptionally long tracks as the main bones of the album plus a cover of trip hop band Portishead’s ‘Glory Box’ as a kind of appetite whetting side salad.
”Esquina” is a word that can mean ”corner” in both Spanish and Portuguese. And more pertinently, given the clue, bear in mind Miles Davis 1970s classic On The Corner most directly. Sarian and co know how to very expertly conjure that sound.
Highlights from the Sarian back catalogue
New Aurora (2020)Acoustic quartet album that emphasises improvisation and folk-inspired melody. Living at the End of the World (2022)
Released with his quartet on ears&eyes Records, continuing their exploration of “forceful and haunting sounds”. After the Rain: Impressions on Daily Sounds… (2022)
Experimental work incorporating field recordings and ambient textures, reflecting rebirth themes during the pandemic era. León (2018)
Released with his septet The Chabones, featuring high-energy arrangements with multiple horns and electronic elements. The Escape Suite (2015)
An earlier work with The Chabones.
Sarian has also toured beyond jazz with hitmakers the Jonas Brothers. Esquina was recorded in New Jersey last year and has Sarian with Santiago Leibson on Fender Rhodes, Hammond, Moog & Wurly, bass guitarist Marty Kenney and drummer Nathan Ellman Bell.
Speaking of the massively long number ‘Floating Ballerinas,’ the main achievement of the album, Sarian says:
Sarian – quoted on the Greenleaf Music website
”The title comes from a collage of dancer cutouts I used in the graphic score—images that seemed to capture the fluid, graceful movement I wanted to infuse into the piece”
Recent articles
The W, Mikrokosmos, TYZart**** recommended
Following the example of Chick Corea, Bruno Heinen’s The W for Mikrokosmos zones in specifically on Book 6. What a pick-me-up.
Let Spin, I Am Alien, Discus ****
I have no idea what “post jazz” means, a term sometimes trotted out to describe Let Spin. It trips off the tongue easily enough.
Talkline, Growing Pains, Milk Man EP ***1/2
Words matter. Experiencing the fuller Talkline further joins the dots between poignant 1970s-like singer-songwritery that’s rooted in a liking for John Martyn and Labi Siffre and a more up to the minute jazz sensibility. Growing Pains is quite touching especially ‘I Can See.’
