Reviewed: 2019-06-23
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Bassist Cohen’s latest disc is full of original instrumental compositions, and one traditional song, The music’s been clearly identified with his own unique and defining DNA. There are traces of classical music and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. There’s bebop and hard bop, swing and hiphop. But with every new album his own personality shines through more emphatically. The tracks switch from a standard piano trio to a full quintet.
If You Like: David Friesen, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock (acoustic), Emmet Cohen, Steve Davis
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
**1/ Simonero (4:07) – bass starts> uptempo trio jam morphs into quintet> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick fade
*2/ Arvoles (5:35) – piano starts> midtempo trio jam> bass solo> midtempo jam> piano solo> midtempo jam> fade
***3/ Face Me (4:02) – piano starts> uptempo trio jam> builds in volume & intensity, bass switches to bowed bass> rocking piano solo> quick fade
4/ Gesture #2 (3:35) – trombone/flute start> midtempo quintet jam> bass solo> trombone solo> midtempo jam> quick fade
**5/ Elchinov (3:55) – piano starts> uptempo trio jam> piano solo> uptempo trio jam> quick stop
6/ Childhood (for Carmel) (2:59) – trombone/flute start> midtempo quintet pastoral jam> trombone/flute duet> midtempo jam> fade
**7/ Gesture #1 (2:52) – piano starts> uptempo trio jam, includes bowed bass> bass solo> piano solo soars> fast tempo jam> quick stop
*8/ Nostalgia (4:17) – piano starts> uptempo trio jam> piano solo> uptempo trio jam> bass solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
9/ New York ‘90s (2:56) – drums start> uptempo quintet jam> trombone solo to fade
*10/ Wings (4:29) – drums start> uptempo quintet jam> bass/piano duet> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick stop