Ancient Lights

Keeling, Paul
Ecm Records (Jazz)
Jazz | Jan 2016

Reviews

Be Sharp
Reviewed 2016-03-19
JAZZ: PIANO TRIO & SMALL COMBO

Pianist Paul Keeling, working in Vancouver, leads a changing lineup through an interesting and varied set of good sounding, soulful tunes. A core piano-bass-drums trio plays alone on tracks 4 & 6. Trumpet and tenor sax appear on about half the tracks, augmented further by guitar on a couple tracks and trombone on one. It’s the trio plus just a guitar on track 7. All compositions are by Keeling, except track #6 by Kenny Wheeler.

All instrumental. No FCC issues.

1 * Fast, spirited. Trumpet & sax play in close harmony. Strong rhythm section. (7:29)
2 * Fast, lively, happy. Extended leads on trumpet then sax then piano. (7:37)
3 Mid-tempo. Gentle, easy going piece suggestive of flowing or falling water. (5:34)
4 Slow, gentle ballad. Just piano, bass, drums. Nocturnal. (6:41)
5 ** Mid-fast and swinging. Trumpet & sax are back, joined now by excellent & largely featured trombone. Six players sound like a big band. (7:35)
6 * Slow intro then mid-fast. Just the trio, but much better and more fun than #4. (5:45)
7 Mid-tempo. Light & breezy. The trio plus electric guitar, no horns. (7:12)
8 Slow & gentle. Trio is joined by a languid, legato trumpet. Soft rolling tom toms. (5:53)
9 ** Mid-tempo. Happy, light-hearted. Horns are back for a great ensemble sound. (6:32)

Recent airplay

Transition
Forest for the TreesMay 27, 2016
Hearth
K-areaMay 22, 2016
Transition
Music CasseroleMay 21, 2016
Ancient Lights
RebopMay 20, 2016
'smatter
RebopMay 13, 2016
'smatter
K-areaMay 08, 2016

Charting

2016-03-27 — 2016-05-29 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
May 29 2
May 22 2
May 15 2
May 8 1
May 1 1
Apr 24 1
Apr 17 1
Apr 3 1

Track listing

1. Ancient Lights
2. Face The Music
3. Cascade
4. Hearth
5. Transition
6. 'smatter
7. Keep Telling The Story
8. I'm Going With You
9. The Big Outside