Nick Fraser Quartet: Starer

Drummer Nick Fraser leads a quartet of Tony Malaby/ts-ss, Andrew Downing/cel and Rob Clutton/b through a collection of his left of center compositions. The music has a light feel, missing a foundations as cello and bass bow and pick to deliver some solid ground. Most successful in this context is the medieval sounding melodies delivered by Malaby on tenor during the title track and “Sketch #20/22” in which the fragrant themes take you to another time and era. Malaby’s tenor broods and groans over the bowed strings on “Sketch #29” and his soprano interacts with the strings cleverly on “Sketch 21.” Slight abstractions are kept together by Fraser’s timekeeping and use of his sticks to keep the critters in formation. Clever!

www.nickfraserthedrummer.com

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