Peter Nelson (trombone); Alexa Barchini (voice); Nikara Warren (vibes); Josh Lawrence (trumpet); Hailey Niswanger (alto); Yuma Uesaka (bass clarinet); Willerm Delisfort (piano); Raviv Markovitz (bass); Itay Morchi (drums).
(Review by Dave Brownlow).
This intriguingly entitled album by trombonist Peter Nelson features him in three different settings – a delicate trio of vibes, wordless female vocal and trombone, a quartet of trombone, piano, bass and drums and a septet of trumpet, trombone, alto sax, bass clarinet and three rhythm.
Peter has emerged from a debilitating five-year health condition (Dystonia) which made it extremely painful and impossible to play his instrument caused by poor teaching as he learned music. He has since recovered and forged a career composing in a variety of genres and playing trombone with some of the top names in the US jazz scene. The ten unusually titled tracks on the album refer to some of the stages of Peter’s recovery and form a kind of musical suite brought to life by his collaborators each of whom has played a part in his life.
It Starts Slowly(first in your heart) is the first offering from the trio – an ethereal, out-of-this-world piece with wordless vocals and shimmering chords from the vibes contrasting sharply with the full sound of the trombone.
State of Fear (that lonely nightmare) is by the quartet – a hard-swinging performance reminiscent of a Coltrane tour-de-force with ambiguous Tyner-esque chords and some fearsome ‘machine-gun’ trombone and an unsettling drum-led coda.
As We Grow Unfamiliar (In the Void) also by the quartet is based on a repeated two-chord vamp where the rhythm team work hard to provide momentum. Agile solos from trombone and piano in ‘contemporary’ style squeeze all the possibilities from a limited chord sequence.
Cyclical Maze (Round and Round We Go) is by the septet and begins with a chorale-style intro from brass and reeds, leading to a pleasingly arranged melodic theme statement. The solos are unusual in that each player has just 8 bars, then 4, then 2 leading to a successful mass ‘free-for-all’ which completes the track.
Ghost of Sand (Slipping Through Your Fingers) is from the trio – a short out-of-tempo exploration of some imponderable idea where the brusque trombone contrasts nicely with ‘other-worldly’ floating backing.
Back to the septet for Do Nothing (If Less is More) which is a tribute to physiologist/trombonist Jan Kagarice who diagnosed and treated Nelson’s condition.
To The Water, my Eyes (To The Wave, my Heart) is a churning quartet performance with a confident theme statement with solos from bass, trombone and piano on a simple chord structure in “contemporary style.”
Peace, A Moment (you’re enough) is just trombone and bass and finds the leader in reflective mood over the bassist’s repeated motif using the instrument’s harmonics.
Behind Kind Eyes (thank you) is from the septet and sounds like something George Russell might have written. It features the alto of Niswanger, a more conventional trombone solo and a sudden and unexpected ending (i.e. no final theme statement).
Closure is a Wasted Prayer (release, relax) from the trio – is a brief, surreal, impressionist statement which concludes this CD in gentle style.
Overall, a thoughtful album in several respects – a somewhat audacious use of resources, far-reaching, imaginative compositions, and the heart-warming story of a musician, restored to health, realising his talents and abilities to the full.
Available now on OiM 1813 from Outside In Music or peternelsonmusic.com
Dave B.
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