Graylen Epicenter

Binney, David
Mythology Records
Jazz | Feb 2011

Reviews

Fo
Reviewed 2011-02-13
DAVID BINNEY: Graylen Epicenter
Mythology, 2010

MODERN JAZZ – David Binney is awesome. His playing burns with fiery intensity; his mercurial compositions blend a distinctive harmonic sound with slippery, shifting influences, and he always seems to have the best cats around in his band. Take all of those factors to another level here, with an all-star group playing gripping tunes that deny all pigeonholes: cutting-edge jazz ideas sprinkled with weightless, mostly wordless vocals that enchant and confound at every turn. But don’t analyze this; just fall into it.

David Binney : alto & soprano sax
Gretchen Parlato : vocal
Ambrose Akinmusire : trumpet
Chris Potter : tenor sax
Wayne Krantz : guitar
Craig Taborn : piano
Eivind Opsvik : bass
Brian Blade, Dan Weiss : drums
Kenny Wollesen, Rogerio Boccato : percussion

All excellent! Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10

1. 10:00 – drums pull theme into spiral, then piano & sax build a tower, vocal end
2. 12:36 – shape-shifting: casual blues, spooky improv, soft vocal to ornate sax
3. 8:22 – dour piece: supple sax duo navigates tough piano/drum obstacle course
4. 8:27 – enigmatic sideways slide; questioning sax breaks free; odd vocal ending
5. 5:47 – bass drone sets up sing-song sax/vocal line; busts into fractured groove
6. 7:19 – cool bass/drum updraft supports stabbing melodic line, smoldering solos
7. 1:35 – intricate interlude: just horns & vocal
8. 7:01 – hushed vocal ballad: breathy, soulful vox; serene quartet rises mightily
9. 7:13 – drums set up striding, futuristic march; solos dig in as drums scramble
10. 5:32 – quiet, scattered intro drifts into steady, samba-like pattern; hot horns

[ Fo ] 02/13/11

Recent airplay

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Charting

2011-02-13 — 2011-04-17 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Apr 17 1
Apr 3 1
Mar 27 1
Mar 13 1
Mar 6 2
Feb 27 3
Feb 20 1

Track listing

1. All Of Time
2. Graylen Epicenter
3. Equality At Low Levels
4. Everglow
5. From This Far
6. Terrorists And Movie Stars
7. Same Stare, Different Thought
8. Home
9. Any Years Costume
10. Waking To Waves