Potter wastes no fourth dimension getting into a rigid electrical mode, alongside guitarist John Scofield sitting inwards on the commencement track, “Megalopolis.” They lay downward the Pb draw of piece of job alongside a quirky offbeat in addition to enough of energy. The band, whose players — keyboardist Kevin Hays, bassist Scott Colley in addition to drummer Bill Stewart — are all top-notch, brand complicated rhythms seem easy. They boot into 4/4 for a duad of tunes, simply stick alongside a freer rhythmic construction that offers both tension in addition to release. “Snake Oil,” for example, stops in addition to starts, gets going, thence hesitates, fast-forwards, in addition to thence takes a duad of steps back. It’s dizzying, simply intriguing.
Other tracks, though, are every bit pretty in addition to lyrical every bit whatsoever jazz around. “Invisible Man” has a lonesome tune that Potter renders on flute. The delicacy of the tune creates a faraway, natural infinite for everyone inwards the band to solo inwards careful whispers. In contrast, the meaty version of the traditional spiritual “Go Children” digs into hand-clapping, straight-up pleasure, the bass lines in addition to chord changes tempering the gospel alongside gritty blues.
“Migrations” brings together his musical journeys, containing a niggling of everything. It starts alongside a funky, guitar-fueled melody, simply thence transforms entirely, easing into a reflective tempo that is low-cal in addition to otherworldly. These acute shifts may position off listeners who are to a greater extent than attuned to a consistent, straight-ahead beat, simply the textures in addition to nuances catamenia together effortlessly nether Potter’s sax lines.
At times, he pushes jazz to its limits, simply e'er returns to a satisfying coherence. This musical sense, along alongside his straight-ahead sax playing, has made him i of the almost compelling immature jazz players around. Acoustic-minded jazz fans may prefer the traditional season of “Gratitude,” simply the electrical guitar, well-chosen sampling in addition to fresh arrangements present that “Traveling Mercies” looks inwards a dissimilar direction.
Chris Potter gets to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than adventurous. On this follow-up to the rigid Gratitude, the tenor in addition to soprano saxophonist beefs upwards rigid writing in addition to heady grouping interplay alongside occasional sampled sounds in addition to miscellaneous textures similar clavinet in addition to reed organ. True to form, he plays additional current of air instruments -- alto flute in addition to bass clarinet inwards this illustration -- in addition to isn't afraid of overdubbing them to exercise lush orchestration, on tracks similar "Snake Oil" in addition to "Any Moment Now." On the haunting "Invisible Man" he fifty-fifty doubles the alto flute tune alongside his singing voice. Not until the 5th track, a Meters-like adaptation of the spiritual "Children Go," exercise yous hear a 4/4 tempo; loping lines over strange meters prevail, alongside pianist Kevin Hays, bassist Scott Colley, in addition to drummer Bill Stewart expertly laying downward the edgy grooves. (Like on Gratitude, Hays doubles on Fender Rhodes.) John Scofield contributes tart solos on 3 tracks, patch Adam Rogers adds nylon-string in addition to slide colors on 2 others. The sweeping, Metheny-esque harmonies of "Highway One" choose the programme to a head, followed past times a closing bass clarinet/piano duo on Willie Nelson's "Just every bit I Am." As a jazz record, Traveling Mercies is really much a production of its post-millennial times, simply it nevertheless comes across every bit highly individual. Its value volition live lasting.
Walking inwards jazz saxophonist Chris Potter's shoes on his novel recording Traveling Mercies may evidence to live a rewarding sense for the exploratory listener. The multitalented participant has covered a lot of Earth on recent tours in addition to sessions alongside acclaimed recordings such every bit the Dave The Netherlands Quintet's Not for Nothin' in addition to Steely Dan's Two Against Nature. His science every bit musician, composer, in addition to arranger comes to the forefront on Traveling Mercies to give the listener a glimpse of the musical roads he has traveled thence well.
The stance behind the novel recording comes from the artist's reflections of recent tours every bit a bandleader in addition to sideman. The listener volition have a musical itinerary that is layered alongside dissimilar textures in addition to environments, which offers a modern jazz mentality. This is a deviation from his previous recording Gratitude which paid homage to swell saxophonists such every bit John Coltrane in addition to Charlie Parker. The music at in i lawsuit infuses elements such every bit audio samples, electrical keyboards, guitars, in addition to diverse elements to exercise a kaleidoscope of sound.
Potter possesses a rigid tenor sound, which is throaty in addition to deep alongside meaning, simply it's a existent process to hear him on bass clarinet, flute, in addition to strange instrumentation such every bit the reed organ. Combine this alongside particular compositional skills, in addition to selection musicians; Traveling Mercies is a cutting inwards a higher house the rest. Guitar wizards, John Scofield in addition to Adam Rogers heighten the mix alongside progressive playing on many of the selections. Kevin Hays provides prissy laissez passer on off the pianoforte in addition to Fender Rhodes, patch bassist Scott Colley in addition to drummer Bill Stewart are a tried in addition to truthful formula for tight rhythms. Highlights abound on the recording such every bit the atmospheric "Highway One" in addition to the multi-textured "Any Moment Now," which is a will to Potter's arranging skills. The recording concludes alongside the serene "Just every bit I Am," which features a lovely pianoforte in addition to clarinet duet.
Highly recommended.
Track Listing:
01 Megalopolis;
02 Snake Oil;
03 Invisible Man;
04 Washed Ashore;
05 Children Go;
06 Any Moment Now;
07 Migrations;
08 Azalea;
09 Highway One;
10 Just every bit I Am.
Personnel:
Chris Potter -tenor in addition to soprano saxophone, alto flute, bass clarinet, reed organ, clavinet, sampler, percussion, voice;
John Scofield -guitar;
Adam Rogers -acoustic in addition to slide guitar;
Kevin Hays -piano, Fender Rhodes, clavinet;
Scott Colley -bass;
Bill Stewart -drums
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