Reviewed: 2019-05-16
Genre: Jazz (X)
FCCs: none
Review: For his latest release, guitarist Jackson is partnered with three Danish musicians he has gotten to know rather well of late. The band's chemistry is immediately apparent. The music is at its best when the four really turn it loose, with Jackson's jagged shards driving the quartet into its most impassioned and unrestrained playing on the record. True to Jackson's expansive tendencies, though, the album's nine tracks cover a lot of ground, from a gentle stroll to hard-edged freedom. What ultimately holds it all together is Jackson's undeniable prowess. His deep melodic sensibility and razor-sharp precision are constants.
If You Like: Miles Okazaki, John McLaughlin, Nels Cline, Robert Fripp, Jan Garbarek, Ornette Coleman
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
***1/ Theme-X (5:44) – guitar starts> midtempo jam> guitar solo> midtempo jam> sax solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
**2/ Clarity 6 (4:10) – bass starts> uptempo sonic jam> builds in intensity & frenzy> quick stop
*3/ Spin (4:02) – bass/drums start> uptempo jam> wild guitar solo> bass/percussion duet> uptempo jam> quick stop
*4/ Blue Blue (5:40) – guitar starts> bluesy midtempo jam> rocking guitar solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
5/ Clarity 3 (6:33) – full band starts with repeated riff> pause> midtempo jam slowly builds in intensity> sax solo> midtempo jam> repeated riff> quick stop
**6/ Ah Yay (7:26) – bass/percussion starts> uptempo samba-like electric jam with muted vocals> guitar solo> uptempo jam> slow fade on vocal
7/ Collectors Of Social Dismay (7:04) – guitar starts> slow jam builds to midtempo, then slows again to fade
**8/ Survivors (3:26) – full band starts> rocking uptempo sonic off-kilter jam increases in volume & frenzy> guitar solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
***9/ Meditation in E (3:33) – guitar starts> slow sonic jam, beautiful interplay between sax & guitar> slow fade