Parlour Game

Reviewed: 2019-09-08
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Drummer Miller & violinist Scheinman have created an offshoot band from Boom Tic Boom. There is a sense of joyful attraction and shared hunger grounded in rhythmic acuity. Each track swings in its own way yet with a consistent sense of commitment, embodying what musicians call “the pocket”: a rhythmic feel that is firmly locked in but also relaxed to the point of elasticity. While Scheinman & Miller have each made more innovative music in the past, these tracks nevertheless reflect a spirit of adventure
If You Like: Regina Carter, Geri Allen, Nikki Parrott
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
**1/ Play Money (5:12) – bass starts> uptempo jam> piano solo> violin solo> uptempo jam slows to midtempo> quick fade
***2/ 116th & Congress (5:13) – drums start> uptempo jam with Afrobeat vibe> violin solo> piano solo> bass solo to fade
3/ The Right Fit (3:25) – violin starts> midtempo jam> piano solo> midtempo jam> quick fade
*4/ Michigan (5:21) – piano/drums start> midtempo jam> violin solo> midtempo jam> pause> midtempo jam> quick fade
*5/ Fake Weather (5:19) – bass starts> midtempo jam> violin solo> piano solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
6/ Lead With Love (4:40) – violin starts> slow tempo jam> piano solo> violin solo> midtempo jam> fade
**7/ Beans & Rice (4:28) – piano starts with a bluesy feel> midtempo jam> piano solo> wild violin solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
8/ Meanwhile (0:47) – violin starts> short fast jam>
*9/ Top Shelf (3:48) – violin/piano starts> fast tempo jam> lightning fast piano solo> violin solo> fast jam> quick stop
10/ Miss Battle’s Cannonball (5:07) – piano starts> midtempo jam> piano solo> violin solo> midtempo jam> fade
**11/ Sleep Rider (5:02) – piano/bass starts> slow meditative jam> violin solo> piano solo> slow jam> pause> fade