Breathing

DAN ARAN: Breathing
Smalls, 2009

MODERN JAZZ – Not your typical drum-led session, this is lovely, organic-sounding music by an Israeli-American drummer with a gentle rhythmic conception and distinctive, slippery technique. Working with a rotating cast of musicians from the Greenwich Village scene, the only constant is Bay Area transplant Art Hirahara on piano. Nice work.

* * * * | Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10

1. 7:35 – slow, billowing: interwoven horns, soft bass, guitar becomes a force
2. 4:05 – haunting piano into another slow, drifting tune; drums shimmer softly
3. 4:52 – upbeat stroll, swings gently… nothing flashy, sticks to the point
4. 9:19 – really nice! Gorgeously melodic soprano sax over a quiet rhythmic riff
5. 6:54 – calm ballad: nice feature for gracefully arcing piano
6. 8:06 – relaxed, swinging tune: trumpet & trombone take it easy, lively piano
7. 6:11 – standard ballad with bassoon(!), moves as a calm, steady pace
8. 7:21 – midtempo standard, bass & piano take the lead; nice drums near end
9. 5:54 – middle eastern tune: solo piano, then gently undulating caravan feel
10. 7:37 – bluesy, slouching melody over steady sway; perks up, horn chatter

[ Fo ] 10/18/09