Reviewed: 2019-06-05
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Pianist Matt Mitchell brings a steady cerebralism to every project that he is a member of. The hardest thing about trying to digest this recording is placing it in some form of historical context. Modern creative jazz with classical etudes and informed by progressive rock? Perhaps. Regardless, it is a compelling and singular workout for the ears. Comparisons are difficult.
If You Like: Matthew Shipp, Henry Threadgill, John McLaughlin, Jakob Bro
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
**1/ Stretch Goal (6:25) – piano drums start> fast tempo jam> piano solo> vibes solo> guitar solo> fast jam> quick stop
2/ Tout Pry (1:45) – piano/drums start> fast tempo jam> quick stop
*3/ Zoom Romp (1:26) – piano/drums start> midtempo off-kilter jam> instruments riff against each other> quick stop
***4/ Phasic Haze Romps (15:53) – piano starts> slow jam builds to midtempo> guitar/piano duet> midtempo jam> piano/vibes duet> vibes solo> midempo off-kilter jam> piano solo swings uptempo then mellows into midtempo space jam> morphs into midtempo off-kilter jam> slow fade to quick stop
5/ s s g g (5:00) – piano starts slow & hesitant> slow jam> slowly builds in complexity> quick stop
**6/ Be Irreparable (5:43) – piano/vibes start> midtempo off-kilter jam slowly builds to uptempo jam, then fast jam> quick stop
***7/ Mind Aortal Cicotrix (9:24) – piano/vibes start slow> slow jam builds to midtempo> vibes solo> piano solo> guitar solo> midtempo jam quickly swings into uptempo space jam> guitar/vibes duet morphs into rocking fast tempo jam into the stratosphere> crescendo end