(Review by
Alan Law.)
This is a new piano trio album from the Cuban born pianist,
violinist composer and arranger Aruán
Ortiz .joining him on bass is Eric
Revis is and Gerald Cleaver
drums.
All new names to me, but a cursory look on Google
revealed Ortiz has written music for jazz ensembles, orchestras, dance companies,
chamber groups, and feature films. His work incorporates influences from
contemporary classical music, Cuban-Haitian rhythms, and avant-garde
improvisation
On the composers website there is reference to a
recent project in which non musical patterns and ideas were explored as fuel
for improvised music.
This may explain some of the titles of the original compositions,
which frequently refer to mathematical concepts.
Fractal Sketches
starts with a dissonant grooving
pattern, augmented by a dramatic percussive left hand with scurrying bass and
drums, Open And Close /The Sphinx an
Ornette Coleman tune, imaginatively re-interpreted with a cool bass figure periodically
giving way to bright classical sounding passages Carribean Vortex/Hidden Voices begins with an unfamiliar clave
pattern that becomes a percussion conversation, and the rhythmic drive
continues when the trio begin. There is some dissonance involved, however, the
pedal point and strong rhythm holds the listener well.
Analytical
Symmetry intensity in one area is
offset by the other players in this brooding exploration.
Arabesques
of a Geometrical Rose (Spring) a
spacious meditative piano solo with some gently mind expanding harmonic
contrary motion.
Arabesques
of a Geometrical Rose (Summer) a compelling
hypnotic bassline underscores this very different take on the subject matter.
17 Moments
of Liams Moments (or 18) is a brief
composition that manages to sound avant garde yet structured, and is curiously
evocative.
Joyful
noises is a collective textural
improvisation, punctuated by occasional timed bold chords. The Monk standard Skippy follows, the theme is there but
has been deconstructed and re wrought by this masterfully creative trio.
Uno Dos Tres
, Que Paso , is a solo piano piece
and the last tune on the album.
It has a simple memorable melody (you can hear the
rhythm of the title syllables throughout) that serves as a basis for a beautifully
contemplative exposition.
The listening warranted time and my best stereo set up,
it’s not something I could get into in the car, but I found it extremely
rewarding when I gave the attention it warranted.
The album is well recorded with a great sounding piano
in particular, and if your ear can handle a bit of dissonance there is
something deeply impressive here.
The improvised passages are marked by a commitment to
the total sound of the music, as well as weapons grade virtuosity, and the
effect is a sense of instant composition and arrangement, which is very
satisfying in itself. However, I also found myself very engaged emotionally and
rather touched on several occasions.
Imaginative, cerebral and very emotionally engaging, I
found this a serious, and seriously good, contemporary jazz album.
Alan.
Aruán Ortiz Trio - Hidden Voices is available on Intakt Records.
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