Joel Harrison (guitar & voice), Cuong Vu
(trumpet), Paul Hanson (bassoon), Kermit Driscoll (bass), Brian Blade (drums
& voice) + Everett Bradley (voice) & Adam Klipple (Hammond B-3)
(Review by Russell).
Michael Janisch’s Whirlwind Recordings label continues
to release new material at a rate of knots. Joel Harrison’s Spirit House is a quintet assembly of
the guitarist and four of his musical collaborators. The leader has written
pieces with the musicians in mind, this isn’t a guitar-centric album. Trumpet
and bassoon plus Harrison’s ‘saturated guitar voicings’ – a three-horn
frontline – work with the bass and drums dream team of Kermit Driscoll and Brian
Blade.
Harrison’s aforementioned ‘voicings’ encourages one to
listen intently; is that Harrison’s guitar? Is it Cuong Vu’s electronically
reconfigured trumpet? Could it be bassoonist Paul Hanson? No matter, the strong
soloist is trumpeter Vu. Embracing Miles (circa 1970) and Kenny Wheeler’s
sound, Vu stretches out on several of the nine tracks on Spirit House. A prog rock core to the album is evinced in
Harrison’s Pink Floyd-inspired vocals.
All the compositions are Harrison’s except Paul
Motian’s Johnny Broken Wing. The
track suggests Kenny Wheeler way down in Mississippi! Harrison’s rhythm section
is of A-list calibre. Agile bassist Kermit Driscoll works in tandem with the in
demand, creative Brian Blade. Spirit
House reaches out far beyond any notion of jazz parameters. Those prepared
to listen beyond the jazz spectrum will be richly rewarded.
Joel Harrison 5 Spirit House is released on July 6 on
Whirlwind Recordings (WR4673). In the autumn Harrison will tour the album in
the UK.
Russell.
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