For guitar fans, Gilad Hekselman showed his bridge linking the past to the future of the six strings as he showed up with the simpatico team of Dave Robaire/b and Jonathan Pinson/dr to deliver material from his latest album Home for the packed Blue Whale jazz venue.
The hour long opening set consisted of four tunes, so Hekselman mixed the rich lyricism of pieces such as “Verona” with rich explorative solos. The opening piece displayed his clear tone over the gentle cantor of the rhythm team, as Heksleman used searching melodic improvisations that were Metheny-esque in their penetration, while Robaire and Pinson supplied deft percolating waves of volcanic energy. Hekselman even tipped his hat to his inspiration by including Metheny’s “Last Train Home” to mix Pinson’s percussive and celebrative ride cymbal to ride the whip as Hekselman galloped with East African guitar sounds, popping and lilting with various dynamics that ebbed and flowed.
The leader then used his pedals like paint brushes as he created sonic panoramas that slid and glided with longing sighs as “Eyes to See” began with a contemplative trudge, but gradually built up with a climactic volley between strings and drums before gently receding like the evening tide.
Pinson introduced the closing “Keedee” with an intuitive and crisp use of the drums, turning into a Carribean gallop as Robaire supplied complementary bopping lines and Hekselman did some table dancing with his fingers. The three looked and watched with their ears as they simultaneously changed gears and went from deft and dainty hushes to a last kick to the finish line for a climactic end of an exciting hour.
Hekselman and his symbiotic friends show an exciting direction for jazz guitar, combining respect for the past with an eye on the horizon.
Upcoming shows at the Blue Whale include Brazilian pianist Guilherme Vergueiro 01/14, Bob Reynolds 01/22 and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson 01/29-30