One of the true marks of an artist is that he’s grasped that golden ring of “having your own voice.” Guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel has developed a recording catalogue and touring career based on not only his unique approach to his instrument, but making it pleasing to both those who are guitar freaks and those who are simply here for the six stringed beer. His quartet of Justin Faulkner/dr, Aaron Parks/p and Eric Revis/b rolled into LA as part of the Jazz Bakery’s “Moveable Feast” and filled the Kirk DouglasTheatre with music that was both exploratory and energizing.
Emphasizing music from his masterful latest release Star of Jupiter, Rosenwinkel delivered his patented mix of string and voice to songs like the gently driving “Something Sometime” that displayed clean #2 pencil lines of linear solo work with ethereal vocals. His interplay with Aaron Parks’ piano stylings (just WHEN is his next solo disc coming out?) was a symbiotic display of energy as the two shifted back and forth, while Revis and Faulkner supplied the turf building on the rapid fire “A Shifting Design” and a flowing “Welcome Home” that built up into a surprising and rousing climax of a close. Other songs like “Heavenly Bodies” had a spacious luminosity, while “Gamma Band” created white heat with the rapid fire torrent of notes from guitar and piano ; “Déjà vu” plaintively dropped dews of water which slowly built up into a haunting three chord motif that enveloped the room.
Faulkner and Revis got the room into a feisty mood during a strutting “Homage to Mitch” but Rosenwinkel set the evening up like a closing reliever for the winning team by delivering a gentle serenade of a solo on “Under It All” before turning the band into a runaway locomotive on the dramatic and charging “Star of Jupiter,” ending the evening with a sense of awe as well as appreciation for a fresh and sui generic voice, having something to say that ears from all musical levels can appreciate. Not a small feat, indeed!
Upcoming events sponsored by the Bakery:
Feb 28 Chris Potter
March 3 Patricia Barber
www.jazzbakery.com