Andy
Milne (piano, prepared piano, Fender Rhodes and synths), Aaron
Kruziki (soprano and alto saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet and
douduk), John Moon (vocal poetics), Christopher Tordini (acoustic and
electric bass), Kenny Grohowski (drums and percussion).
(Review
by Hugh Cochrane).
This
is Andy Milne's first recording for Whirlwind Recordings. It is Dapp
Theory's third release and features guest performances from Ben
Monder (guitar), and Jean Baylor and Gretchen Parlato (vocals).
Dapp
Theory was formed by Milne in 1998 to
“tell passionate
stories, promote peace and inspire collective responsibility towards
uplifting the human spiritual condition”.
The music seeks to explore the truths that exist in universal wisdom,
while creatively expressing life’s journeys.
Forward
in All Directions chronicles the journey Dapp Theory has taken in
its 15 years.
There
is certainly a good jazz groove running through this album and Milne
and his fellow musicians delight in exploring other creative
influences including Appalachian folk, traditional Armenian, heavy
metal, funk, hip-hop, pop and classical music.
The
CD comes in at just over an hour and consists of ten tracks, each
individual in their own way. Photographs, Hopscotch Search Party,
Katharsis; are overlain with the
spoken “vocal poetics” of John Moon. I personally can take or
leave this rap-style addition, but the music's good. The scat vocals
of Jean Mondor on Katharsis are
a delight, however.
In
the Mirror, Darkly, Nice to Meet You, The Trust, How and When versus
What, Fourteen Fingers and Headache in Residence are,
by contrast, purely instrumental tracks amply demonstrating the
musicianship of Andy Milne on keys, Aaron Kruziki on reeds (including
douduk), Chrisopher
Tordini on bass and Kenny Grohowski on drums and percussion. Ben
Monder adds atmospheric guitar on Search
Party, How and When versus What
and Headache in
Residence.
On
one level I can appreciate the supreme musicianship demonstrated on
this recording. The sleeve notes indicate that this album has been at
least nine years in gestation. The product is sold as something on
an altogether higher plane – which, I regret, completely passes me
by! One cannot however doubt the sincerity and dedication of Milne
and other contributors to this project, which has been funded, in
part, by a Kickstarter campaign .
The
final words are Andy Milne's:
“It's
a milestone, a celebration, and a reflection of the changing times
for artists. My life as an artist, entrepreneur and educator
requires me to move in all directions at all times and I derive joy
in meeting this challenge.”
Forward
in All Directions is
released by Whirlwind Recordings in the UK on September 8. Catalogue No. WR4660.
Hugh
C.
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