Drummer and composer Clemens Grassmann is my kind of guy for the future of jazz. He is able to combine the tradition of jazz but add modern and clever textures to point the music into a creative direction. Even his selection of fellow bandmates is creative, boasting a two guitar team of Jernej Bervar & Yoav Eshed, a sax front line of altoist David Milazzo with tenor man Alex Madeline and having it held together by bassist Nick Dunston on this six song album of originals.
Grassmann keeps the cadence lively for the rich sauce horns and guitars that are thick yet nimble, giving space for concise yet personal solos by Milazzo on “Midnight Apple” with the team getting gritty on the rapid bopper “Zig Zag” that has the saxes searing around the racetrack and both guitarists swerving around the traffic like six stringed Maserati’s. Grassman’s sticks snap like snowpeas on the hectic but coherent “On The Treadmill” while showing his softer side as he guides Dunston’s bass to tiptoe through the velvety reeds on “Sphere.” His cymbals coax out a waltzing skip for “Bervar” and the reeds on the graceful “The Beat Zapps” before Dunston’s ectomorphic digits give a obstacle course of an intro to the exotic “Mystic.”
Grassmann and his gents give an alluring combination of fresh sounds teamed with accessible and exciting themes. Check them out!