Dee Byrne: alto/compositions; André Cannière: trumpet; Rebecca Nash: piano; Olie
Brice: double bass; Matt Fisher: drums.
(Review by Steve H).
I have seen Entropi a couple of times and enjoyed
both gigs immensely so I was very excited when their second CD, Moment
Frozen, dropped through the letter box. I am pleased to say that my
high expectations were confirmed in full.
According to the
liner notes the compositions are inspired ‘galactic and chronometric’ themes.
The concept of the album is that life is a series of snapshots, “If we hold
each of them up to the light,
are we happy with these frozen moments, which, make up the sum of our
existence?” Thought provoking stuff and the album certainly has a
stimulating and stellar like quality.
Things get off to a cracking start
with the fairly straight ahead Stelliferous Era (one of the 5
stages of the life of the universe). Coincidently, all members of the quintet
get to show off what they are about with André
Cannière playing in a Miles-like fashion..
Fish Whisperer, after a
tentative start, has an explosive saxophone solo in the middle before returning
to a whispery finale.
There’s quite a disjointed feel to
Interloper; it bursts into life with all manner of instruments playing
off against each other - as disturbing as an intruder may be, although I
thoroughly enjoyed the incursion.
The title track, Moment
Frozen, is described as “recreating the circular motion of this (see Elst Pizarro) comet/asteroid in the
asteroid belt...” and certainly has a cinematic cosmic feel to it.
It’s Time highlights a
wonderful solo from Rebecca Nash on Rhodes, underpinned by great double bass work
from Olie Brice and Matt Fisher on drums before Dee Byrne and Andre Canniere
combine to great effect.
A stark double bass intro to In
the Cold Light of Day, melancholy trumpet takes over, then the piece explodes
as Byrne hits us with a spellbinding alto solo, until a far more tranquil
section takes over.
Elst Pizarro is inspired
by a body found in space which displays characteristics of both a comet and
asteroid - a bit like some people I know, actually.
Leap of Faith provides a languid
and peaceful conclusion to a genuinely fine album from one of the UK’s great
crop of young contemporary jazz bands.
Steve
H.
Entropi - Moment Frozen - Available on Whirlwind.
1 comment :
just listened to Dee Byrne and her excellent quintet for the second time and I enjoyed it.
One of the best albums 2017 !
Greetings to the UK from Berlin, Germany.
(Love the title of your blog: "Bebop Spoken Here" , simply ingenious..)
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