Record Reviews

MICHAEL FORMANEK ~ THE RUB AND THE SPARE CHANGE ECM 2167 (Barcode: 602527395142) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This is the debut album for the prestigious ECMFind albums on this label label by American bassist Michael FormanekFind albums by this artist. It was recorded with a brilliant all-American quartet, which includes saxophonist Tim BerneFind albums by this artist, pianist Craig TabornFind albums by this artist and drummer Gerald CleaverFind albums by this artist, all three belonging to the top class of American musicians today. All the music was composed by Formanek and the quartet performs it brilliantly, from start to finish. Both Berne and Taborn have distinctive voices of their own and their contributions are superb throughout. Formanek and Cleaver work together harmoniously and brilliantly as a rhythms section, turning this quartet into a splendid music-making unit, with very few rivals around. The music is strongly influenced by European aesthetics, which is unusual for American Jazz musicians, but common (not surprisingly) to those recording for ECM. This is a very strong album, which should appeal to all Jazz connoisseurs. Highly recommended!

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CHES SMITH / THESE ARCHES ~ INTERNATIONAL HOOHAH FOR TUNE 0033 (Barcode: 5902768701326) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2014 This is a live recording of the American quintet These ArchesFind albums by this artist, led by drummer / composer Ches SmithFind albums by this artist and also including guitarist Mary HalvorsonFind albums by this artist, accordionist Andrea ParkinsFind albums by this artist and saxophonists Tim BerneFind albums by this artist and Tony MalabyFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded during the quintet´s performance at the Warsaw Summer Jazz Days Festival at the Soho Factory neighborhood. The album presents six original compositions, all by Smith. The leader is a familiar face on the contemporary American music scene, as a performer with a variety of different groups and environments, including Rock. The two female players are considered as some of the most interesting players on the scene since the turn of the Century with extensive recorded legacy and the two saxophonists have a well established reputation going way back. The combined talents of these musicians have a huge potential, but sadly it does not materialize here. The music is typical American modern Jazz with some tendencies towards Free and Avant-Garde, but mostly within the accepted boundaries of ambitious modernist mainstream. The compositions, although marginally interesting, are unimpressive and present no innovation or conceptual discovery. The performances are all highly professional, but seem to lack any enthusiasm or human emotion, even when the participants are interacting seemingly on a visceral plane. There is quite a lot happening on the stage, but if it is going anywhere remains an unresolved issue, at least in my case. By the time one gets to the last moments of this album there is a sadness and a deep feel if disappointment, as to what might have happened as opposed to what did happen. Regardless of how great these musicians are technically, the main issue after all remains if they have anything to say to the listener. In this case one would need to presume that perhaps they simply didn´t? Of course I suppose that many modern Jazz enthusiasts will find this album interesting enough, even if only as a result of the respect we all have for the musicians involved. But judged purely by its musical merits, however, this album is a poor statement.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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