JD ALLEN: Grace
Savant, 2013

MODERN JAZZ – Tenor saxophonist JD Allen branches out from his usual trio format, adding young phenom Eldar Djangirov on piano. The result is a less harsh but more convoluted version of Allen’s turbulent, oblique sound (Eldar should do more sideman work – he sounds great). Challenging but not scary, dark & amorphous but with strong character.

All good. Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11

1. 5:15 – relaxed sax/piano dialogue around a melodic fragment; knotty solos
2. 5:03 – dark eddies of rhythm: reaches out, spins in place, finds bop groove
3. 5:50 – great sound in mysterious parallel tempos: melody is a variant of #2
4. 5:41 – lively drums; moves from scattered to purposeful; piano goes high
5. 5:07 – elaborate piano vs. bass pattern; then low and wailing, seeking…
6. 3:06 – anthemic march, rising and reaching: sax brings a bit of blues
7. 6:12 – turbulent drums push ballad melody into fast postbop, roaming solos
8. 3:36 – studio chatter into complex interwoven tune, crossed lines
9. 5:23 – sorrowful edge at first; then striding sax & hard drums, softer piano
10. 6:00 – serene beauty: solo piano sets up a slow, reverent ballad… nice!
11. 5:02 – cold sax/piano interplay in open space: simple bass guides the way

[ Fo ] - 9 June 2013