There are basically two types of jazz recordings, those of all stars who “get together” to cut a disc, and then the albums put together by a working team of artists, none with a big name, but all with a street knowledge of the local scene.
Bassist Zac Carson is a member of the latter, having teamed up with Marco Bolfelli/g, Julia Chen/p and Peter Manheim/dr to create a band with a unique sound and direction. Mostly with a jazz spirit, but with a dash of indie and rock, the songs here have a rich “live” feel, and (mostly) clocking in at between 3-8 minutes, nothing overstays its welcome, with each piece emphasizing a wholistic unity, direction and above all, collection of flying sparks.
The cohesion works magnificently with Bolfelli’s sinewy guitar intricately building up the Butanes around Chen’s bluesy bop on “Changing Tides” and the team digging deep following Carson’s fiery into to the hard driving modal themed “New Beginnings”. Manheim’s gives a hefty backbeat to the CTI soul of Chen’s keyboard with Carson picking out rich lines on “Five Day Crisis” with the team getting into a funky mood as Bolfelli rides out the hip backbeat to “Signal Light”. There are a couple quick solo works to display digital dexterity, as Bolfelli gives a Hendrixy feedback on “Fallen Stars” and Carson delivers a rich sonata on “Final Move”.
A couple guests drop in for cameos, with the misty toned vocalist Lindsey (Lazarte) Carson cheerfully coos to the 50s Tiki party on “In Between” and trumpeter Cosimo Boni polishes his well toned trumpet to veer around Manheim’s guiding cymbals on “Original B.A.M.F” with the rhythm team chugging and building steam like an Italian cycle team.
This album feels like you’re sitting in at the club, taking in the vibes. It’s a nice invitation in which to RSVP some day.
https://zaccarson.bandcamp.com/releases