Boston-born Aaron Bazzell is a jazz educator, composer, and musician. He was originally trained in classical music but the alto saxophone soon took him to Jazz. Now he has released his debut album, Aesthetic. He describes music as “conveying both the beauty and the struggle of the human experience. Aesthetic is my debut album and my first body of work documenting the pursuit of this goal.”
Aesthetic contains nine original compositions by Bazzell and describe his musical quest and display his own development as an artist and as a man. It is indeed a tale worth telling and hearing.
Bazzell is joined by Keith Brown on piano, Jonathan Michel on bass, Brandon Donald on drums, and (on Eventually) by Rachel Robinson on vocals. This is a solid band who made Bazzell’s musical vision come true.
The album opens with Tomorrow Today and it serves like a reveille to understand the fleeting nature of time and even existence. The rhythm section makes for great listening while Bazzell eloquently addresses the melody. Brown offers a fine piano solo against the backdrop of bass and drums. The fading ostinato beautifully pairs with the piano as the song closes. Clearly, this is going to be a fun album.
And so the remainder of the album proves to be. Asked and Answered features cool solos from Brown and bassist Michel. All the while, Bazzell’s alto sax adds layers across the rhythm section and Bazzell shows himself masterful in both composition and performance. Unrequited shifts mood and tempo to more of a cultural requiem that is sweetly melancholy. The sadness of rejection is almost palpable.
Anyone who has served as a teacher understands the mood and movement behind First Period Prep. With Bazzell spending eight years in education, he knows and certainly conveys the joy of that first hour or so of the day spent preparing for the classes (and students) that are soon to follow. It is smoothly swinging, anticipating, and satisfying. Brown’s solo is excellent.
Purpose is an excellent piece that gives some of Bazzell’s most tonal saxophone work. A spot-on number. Then comes the delightful Eventually, featuring Rachel Robinson’s wonderful vocals. It is the story of the pursuit of love and facing whatever may stand in the way.
Maktub is a phrase from one of my favorite books, Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. The phrase means it is written and it serves as the fulcrum between fate and free will. It has a distinct Samba feel as a nod and a wink to Coelho’s Brasilian roots. Bazzell’s alto sax kicks it off and the band makes their own marvelous contributions. This just may be my favorite song on the whole album.
Up and Away offers some of the most languid material on the album. Lovely, wistful, and warm. Then the album concludes with Increase and Persist. It portrays exactly that thought. The sax runs do, in fact, increase and persist through the entire 3:08 of this final track. Bazzell and band certainly represent the idea of leaving it all on the field. It is energetic and vibrant and terrifically eloquent.
Not only is Aaron Bazzell’s Aesthetic a fantastic debut album, it is also an excellent album among even the most seasoned artists. The scope of the inspirations and musical declarations is broad and deep. The performances by all the artists are splendid and Bazzell’s original compositions are extraordinary. An album worth savoring over and over.
~Travis Rogers, Jr. is The Jazz Owl
Aesthetic contains nine original compositions by Bazzell and describe his musical quest and display his own development as an artist and as a man. It is indeed a tale worth telling and hearing.
Bazzell is joined by Keith Brown on piano, Jonathan Michel on bass, Brandon Donald on drums, and (on Eventually) by Rachel Robinson on vocals. This is a solid band who made Bazzell’s musical vision come true.
The album opens with Tomorrow Today and it serves like a reveille to understand the fleeting nature of time and even existence. The rhythm section makes for great listening while Bazzell eloquently addresses the melody. Brown offers a fine piano solo against the backdrop of bass and drums. The fading ostinato beautifully pairs with the piano as the song closes. Clearly, this is going to be a fun album.
And so the remainder of the album proves to be. Asked and Answered features cool solos from Brown and bassist Michel. All the while, Bazzell’s alto sax adds layers across the rhythm section and Bazzell shows himself masterful in both composition and performance. Unrequited shifts mood and tempo to more of a cultural requiem that is sweetly melancholy. The sadness of rejection is almost palpable.
Anyone who has served as a teacher understands the mood and movement behind First Period Prep. With Bazzell spending eight years in education, he knows and certainly conveys the joy of that first hour or so of the day spent preparing for the classes (and students) that are soon to follow. It is smoothly swinging, anticipating, and satisfying. Brown’s solo is excellent.
Purpose is an excellent piece that gives some of Bazzell’s most tonal saxophone work. A spot-on number. Then comes the delightful Eventually, featuring Rachel Robinson’s wonderful vocals. It is the story of the pursuit of love and facing whatever may stand in the way.
Maktub is a phrase from one of my favorite books, Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. The phrase means it is written and it serves as the fulcrum between fate and free will. It has a distinct Samba feel as a nod and a wink to Coelho’s Brasilian roots. Bazzell’s alto sax kicks it off and the band makes their own marvelous contributions. This just may be my favorite song on the whole album.
Up and Away offers some of the most languid material on the album. Lovely, wistful, and warm. Then the album concludes with Increase and Persist. It portrays exactly that thought. The sax runs do, in fact, increase and persist through the entire 3:08 of this final track. Bazzell and band certainly represent the idea of leaving it all on the field. It is energetic and vibrant and terrifically eloquent.
Not only is Aaron Bazzell’s Aesthetic a fantastic debut album, it is also an excellent album among even the most seasoned artists. The scope of the inspirations and musical declarations is broad and deep. The performances by all the artists are splendid and Bazzell’s original compositions are extraordinary. An album worth savoring over and over.
~Travis Rogers, Jr. is The Jazz Owl
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