Here are a couple of releases by younger artists that show a bright future for jazz. Both artists have an exceptional compositional quality to themselves, and are able to mix harmony, melody and space for improvisation in clever and intriguing ways.
Bassist Josh Ginsburg heads a quartet with George Colligan/p-key, Eli Degibri/ts-ss, and Rudy Royston dr that plays games with meters as well as moods. A tune like “Gently” may start as a ballad, but then slowly descends into a cataract of groove, while “Koan” changes pulse like a sipper of an iced coffee. Royston wakes everyone up on the explosive “Red Giant” while Degribi’s sax is sinewy and thick on
“Pushbar” and the title track. Ginsburg himself takes a few unobtrusive solos here and there, but he’s more comfortable directing traffic in this Piazza Del Popolo of a traffic course. Interesting and arresting.
Guitarist Alex Goodman ups the compositional ante even more, with a band consisting of Nick Morgan/reeds, Darcy Myronuk/p-key, Dan Fortin /b and Maxwell Roach/dr. The leader likes to open his pieces with intriguing intros, such as having Myronuk set a tone on “Spider Treaty” before having the ensemble delve into an intricately swinging movement. A mix of cool bop and baroque is present on “Tristano Bach” while fascinating arrangements of Chopin and Bartok are portrayed by the band on a couple of tracks. Never a dull moment, and the clever seems that bind the melody and solos is as rich as a Raphael tapestry. Thoughtful in the best sense.
BJU Records
Connection Point Records