Guitarist Hristo Vitchev has released an impressive variety and number of albums, ranging from Mediterranean duets to exciting fusion. This time around, he leads a simpatico quartet with Jasnan Daya Sing/p, Dan Robbins/b and Mike Shannon/dr through two full cds worth of originals that reflect swinging empathy and lyrical themes as bases for accessible solos.
With this banquet feast of music, it goes understood that there is lots of space for everyone to show their wares, but they each do it tastefully. Shannon is deft and crisp during “Almost Home” while Singh’s piano longs for romance on “Stay” and the pastoral “It Is Here,” the latter being gently nudged by Shannon’s ride cymbal. Robbins shows his bop biceps on the tricky “Old Theme,” he gets nimble on “Without Words..” As for the leader, he’s got a style that is as shiny as chrome fins on a ’60 Caddy, gliding over the lithe pulse on “The Transitory Nature” or creating a pastoral ambiance on “Post Nubes.” He can pick out a hip riff as on “Falling In Orange” or go soft, subtle and understated as on the reflective “Fuschia Brown Eyes.”
The interplay between everyone is like a four-way conversation in an Eastern European coffee bar; lots of counterpoints, questions, answers, and everyone wanting to pitch in their idea at just the right time to arrive at a consensual conclusion. Check these guys out!