Year Of The Snake

FLY: Year of the Snake
ECM, 2012

MODERN JAZZ – The critically acclaimed trio of Mark Turner (sax), Larry Grenadier (bass) and Jeff Ballard (drums) is back with another winner. Their music is elusive, flowing with its own shape-shifting logic. It’s cerebral, sometimes distant, but really delightful when the pace picks up, with lots of subtle interplay that rewards close listening.

Fo’s Picks: 2, 5, 7, 9, 10

1. 2:28 – calm: rises and drifts with pained longing
2. 6:07 – loose uptempo groove: sax weaves calmly through bustling rhythm
3. 0:36 – quiet bass/drum interlude
4. 7:36 – odd dragging spirals: moody sax, tempo-shifting bass, tick-tock drum
5. 6:15 – slow start, then complex rhythms lighten the mood and carry it off
6. 10:12 – from achingly slow, spare chamber music to angular jazz energy
7. 5:05 – relaxed bluesy creep: modern sounds with an old-school feel
8. 3:08 – quiet and improvisational: a hushed, enigmatic atmosphere
9. 5:17 – geometric sax lines over pitter-patter drums, an easygoing vibe
10. 9:01 – brisk rhythm gives it a tight feel, meandering sax gives it freedom
11. 2:38 – verrrrrry slooooow and creaky/spooky
12. 1:50 – very, very quiet: far-off bell tolling, billowing cymbals

[ Fo ] - 1 August 2012