Here’s a dreamy release by Wolfgang Muthspiel, who plays gracefully on both classical and electric guitar with like minded teammates Ambrose Akiinmusire/tp, Brad Mehldau/p, Larry Grenadier/b and Brian Blade/dr. The themes, ranging from the tribute to a friend on “Den Wheeler, Den Kenny” to “Wolfgang’s Waltz” feel extremely personal, with tensile warm embers glowing from Akinmusire’s horn and delicate fragrances from guitar and piano.
Blade and Grenadier are the perfect infielders for this team, as Blade’s deft cymbal work and conversational approach strides well with Grenadier on either the sensitive “Rising Grace” or when everyone joyfully bears down with the leader on electric guitar on the hip “Boogaloo.” The moods are mostly reflective and pensive, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t intricate, as tiny fine pointed dots abound on these watercolors; you just have to stand back a few feet, and then come close to the canvass for details.
ECM Records