CD Review: Lena Bloch - Feathery.

Lena Bloch (ten); Dave Miller (gtr); Cameron Brown (bs); Billy Mintz (dms).
(Review by Lance).

Bloch, a Russian  émigré now residing in Brooklyn,. looks to a time in the past when the past was looking to the future and she continues that quest into the unknown pioneered by such as Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh. Indeed the lady has very much the same dry, tonal qualities associated with Marsh which she incorporates into her current explorations. Bloch can swing when the moment demands swing as well as doing some indulgent contemplation of the naval when activating brain cells is given preference over tapping of the feet. As I recall, Tristano and co. operated in much the same way.

The Tristano influence is emphasised by the inclusion of pieces by Warne Marsh (Marshmallow) and Ted Brown (Featherbed) whilst Bloch dedicates an original composition of her own to one of her most inspirational saxophonists Lee Konitz  - Hi Lee which opens and closes the album. Konitz refers to Bloch as "A very serious and talented saxophonist and composer."

Feathery is an appropriate title for a disc where the music floats like a feather carried lightly along by a cooling breeze on a warm summer's day.

Dave Miller, Cameron Brown and Billy Mintz join up the dots to make this a complete albeit ethereal experience. Four musicians floating, like the feather, in the same direction but by very different routes.

Lena Bloch - Feathery is released today (March 18) on Thirteen Notes Records.

Lance.