Stefano
Bollani (piano), Mark Turner (tenor saxophone), Bill Frisell
(guitar), Jesper Bodilsen (bass), Morten Lund (drums)
(Review
by Hugh)
Stefano Bollani has had previous
collaborations with Enrico Rava and Chick Corea and has also
improvised solo or led a trio. On this album we find him with a
transatlantic quintet powered by a Danish rhythm section and joined
by guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Mark Turner. The album,
which comprises nine new compositions by Bollani was recorded in New
York City's Avatar Studios. The albums performance configurations
range from quintet to quartet to trio to duo.
The title of the work, Joy in
Spite of Everything, speaks for itself and the CD opens with the
jaunty, upbeat calypso number Easy Healing, featuring the
mellow tones of Turner's tenor and Frisell's intricate guitar work
over the rhythmic background provided by his compadres.
No Pope No Party features
Turner and Frisell sequentially with the trio. This is a more
straight ahead, but rhythmically intricate piece, the participants
playing off against each other. Alobar e Kudra has a slight
air of the mystic East and features the trio players Bollani,
Bodilsen and Lund. Las Hortensias is a beautiful,
pensive ballad with breathy tenor from Turner interspersed by
Bodilsen's lyrical bass work, the other two trio members being in a
supportive role.
The twelve minute plus
centrepiece, Vale, reintroduces the quintet, still in
reflective mood, with Bollani's piano featured. Teddy was
written with swing era pianist Teddy Wilson in mind and features the
piano – guitar duo of Bollani and Frisell. The guitar is also
featured with the trio on Ismene, the melody particularly
suiting Frisell's way with a tune. The full quintet are back for
Tales From the Time Loop which again showcases the individual
skills of the musicians, but also their complex melodic interplay.
One can almost sense their interactions and this would be a great gig
to see in intimate venue. The CD finishes with the title track Joy
in Spite of Everything, which ups the tempo again, to finish on a
high.
The were apparently no
preconceptions regarding this album, the band were brought together
just for the session. As Bollani explains “We went into the studio
without all meeting each other. I had never met Bill, neither had
Jesper and Morten. And Morten had never played with Mark. But
that's what I like about jazz music: You just go in and see what
happens”.
Well
it certainly happened here – this is a cracking album and a
pleasure to listen to. I cannot but agree with ECM's assertion that
“Joy in Spite of Everything brims with an
indefatigable lightness of spirit despite the inevitable shadows of
life”.
Hugh.
The
CD was released in the UK on August 25 and is available under the ECM
catalogue number 378 4459.
No comments :
Post a Comment