Untainted

Reviewed: 2018-04-20
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Pianist Mikaelian’s new disc features traditional Armenian songs and dances arranged in a unique improvisatory style.
If You Like: Keith Jarrett, Django Bates, Tigran Hamasyan
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
**1/ Kaqavik (Little Partridge) – drums/piano start> uptempo jam> piano solo> uptempo jam> melody shift, still uptempo> quick stop
2/ Cilicia (9:46) – piano starts> slow jam> slow build to midtempo and slows again> bass solo> slow jam> quick stop
*3/ Armenian Variation (9:22) – piano starts> uptempo jam> pause> uptempo jam> piano solo> uptempo jam> pause> bowed bass solo> midtempo jam swings uptempo> quick stop
4/ Ashkharhums (In My World) (6:44) – piano starts> slow jam> slow fade
*5/ Tesnum Anin (To See Ani) (9:36) – piano starts strong, then mellows> uptempo jam slows to midtempo> piano solo> uptempo jam builds in volume> pause> bass solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
*6/ Circle (6:36) – piano starts strong> midtempo jam hesitates, then slows to slow tempo> piano solo swings to midtempo, then uptempo jam> bass solo> uptempo jam> pause> slows to midtempo> crescendo end
*7/ Dance of Vagharshapat (7:53) – piano starts> fast tempo jam slows to uptempo> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
8/ Msho Aghjik (Girl From Mush) (7:09) – piano starts> slow jam builds to midtempo> bass solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
**9/ De Erger Araks (Sing Araks) (6:42) – piano starts strong, then mellows> midtempo jam builds to uptempo> crescendo> uptempo jam> pause> midtempo jam> bass solo> strong midtempo jam mellows, then swings back to strong> quick stop