Listening to music is a pursuit towards meaningfulness beyond what’s literally there in the hope of a transformation into the mystery of feeling that interrogates the emotions. By the way that doesn’t mean what’s here is over pensive because it’s not. Nor does it mean it’s soppy – again it’s not.
If a crash, bang, wallop approach that comes with monotonous groove or over miked beat is what you want on a jazz record: sorry. Look away now.
While it’s bassist Noah Garabadian‘s album who writes most of the largely appealing tunes it’s the synth player Samuel Adams who is the guiding light as producer and more, also contributing a ballad called ‘To Speak Or Sing Softly.’
I’m not one of those people who come out in a rash at the use of the EWI [electronic wind instrument] which star sax player Dayna Stephens uses judiciously. I suppose it’s because I’m a Michael Brecker fan and his use of the EWI back in the day made me like it.
Garabadian, of Armenian lineage, was born in Berkeley, California in 1985 and studied at UCLA and NYU. His writing tends towards the balladic. No one tune stands out but the overall soundworld is interesting and if you are a Stephens fan there is enough of him on this recording to buy it for that reason alone.
The bassist-leader’s albums include the quite similar in terms of line-up and execution Consider the Stars Beneath Us issued by Outside In Music three years. ago. I get the feeling that this mature album is more about the writing even beyond performance or individual soloing.
If you like UK player Misha Mullov-Abbado with whom an approach and sound Garabedian as a bass player shares something in common: or, come to think of it, in its even more adventurous passages, the Dane Jasper Høiby – then dive in. The water’s lovely.
And one for the future maybe casting around for other settings to hear the bassist in as a player perhaps not necessarily a writer – what about a collaboration with Tigran, like on StandArt – why on earth not? Come on all you A&R geniuses out there. Now that – or just as vividly how about another scribbled on the back of a napkin idea: a collaboration with the incredible Yessaï Karapetian – would be completely worth getting up early in the morning to hear.
discover even more Recent Reviews on Your Favourite Jazz Blog – Marlbank
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Ulysses Owens Jr. and Generation Y, Around The World With U, Cellar Music **** recommended
These old and not so old sweet songs in Gen Y’s hands conjure so ably dear dead days beyond recall.
Biréli Lagrène, Elegant People, PeeWee! ****
Swinging French guitar icon Biréli Lagrène does not disappoint with his best album in simply years. Its sentimental insouciance and savoir faire are something of a revelation that may cure any lingering feeling, dear reader, you might possess of jadedness. Listening shakes off such torpor.
