Shark, The

Kriss, Itai
Avenue K
Jazz | Aug 2011

Reviews

Fo
Reviewed 2011-08-21
ITAI KRISS: The Shark
Avenue K, 2011

MODERN JAZZ – Itai Kriss is an Israeli flutist (currently based in New York) with an inventive approach, a pleasing sound and some tasty tunes in his bag. He has a perfect quartet on this CD, loaded with rising-star talent (that includes guest appearances by trumpeter Avishai Cohen and sax man John Ellis). The music is straight-ahead with a bit of a retro feel at times, but also has lots of oddball twists that keep it fresh. Really nice stuff all around.

Itai Kriss : flute
Aaron Goldberg : piano
Omer Avital : bass
Eric McPherson : drums

Avishai Cohen : trumpet (4,9)
John Ellis: Tenor Saxophone (2)

Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8

1. 7:31 – upbeat tune rides bass/piano riff: flute solo soars, piano digs in
2. 5:28 – happy stroll with added sax: solos get a little twisty
3. 7:06 – sweet and gentle to start; then perks up with a bright latin rhythm
4. 7:47 – very quirky rolling swing with trumpet, settles into straight bop
5. 5:22 – cool, funky groove with tricky key shifts and playful flute/piano solos
6. 6:50 – light and breezy with a touch of Brazil and plenty of solo space
7. 4:35 – old-fashioned Cuban dance, picks up in second half
8. 4:21 – speedy bop: flute shows off chops, piano scurries, nonstop drums
9. 8:32 – relaxed reggae beat: cool solos for flute, trumpet and bass

[ Fo ] - August 2011

Recent airplay

The Shark
Chang Chang
Music CasseroleOct 22, 2011
Gypsy
No Cover, No MinimumOct 21, 2011
Gypsy
RebopOct 18, 2011
The Shark
No Cover, No MinimumOct 14, 2011
Sketch For Toki
RebopOct 11, 2011

Charting

2011-08-21 — 2011-10-23 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Oct 23 3
Oct 16 2
Oct 9 2
Sep 25 2
Sep 18 1
Sep 11 1
Sep 4 2
Aug 28 1

Track listing

1. The Shark
2. Kamuvan
3. Gypsy
4. Four By Four
5. Chang Chang
6. Breeza
7. Danzon No. 1
8. Sketch For Toki
9. Booty Call