The Jazz Owl
  • Travis Rogers, Jr. -- The Jazz Owl
  • A Love of Music
  • Music Reviews
  • Reviews on Travis Rogers Jr.
  • Meetings with Remarkable People
  • SoulMates by Candlelight
  • Music in Portland
  • Toshi Onizuka
  • The Arts: Film, Literature and More
  • A Love of History
  • Baseball Stories
  • Personal Reflections

"Aegean" -- A Sea of Jazz Sound by Jacob Varmus.

11/27/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Jacob Varmus’ 2015 release “Aegean” is a commissioned piece for Jazz septet. Apostolos Georgopoulus is the patron and Jazz fan for the funding of the album. And we feared the Renaissance was over…

The septet is a superb lineup of hired guns who are a great ensemble for the compositions. Varmus leads on trumpet and cornet, Hashem Assadullahi is on alto and soprano sax, the brilliant Pete McCann plays guitar, Leonard Thompson and Broc Hempel split duties on piano and keyboards while Sam Trapchak (bass) and Christian Coleman (drums) anchor the rhythm section.

Varmus’ compositions are distinct and varied, showing great expression of character and technique, energy and emotion.

The album opens with “Elma” and the first notes you hear from Pete McCann’s guitar, the Trapchak’s bass. Thompson adds his delicate piano touch before Varmus joins with his fine trumpet.

It is lyrical and soulful. Coleman’s drum work is rich and tonal, contributing his own melodic sense to the piece. Assadullahi’s alto sax adds a lush backdrop. Trapchak’s bass solo is gorgeous and McCann blends in for his own solo in transition from the bass solo. Seamless.

I strapped in for the ride I knew that “Aegean” was bound to be.

“Areti” starts out with charming piano from Thompson until the rhythm section joins in with wonderfully quirky rhythms. McCann adds a fun—even wicked—guitar show over the riotous rhythm section.

Varmus’ trumpet does nothing to constrain the uproar but, instead, joins the brash bad boys. For all of the fun and humor, this is a masterfully crafted composition. It makes you fondly recall Frank Zappa, who wrote such fun music that was so brilliantly and exactingly constructed.

Assadullahi’s alto sax runs the piece to conclusion. Yeah, this was quite a ride.

“Phineas” opens with Thompson’s electric keyboard with the horns coming aboard in a gentle and evocative duo. This is reminiscent of some of Freddie Hubbard’s gentler moments.

Hashem Assadullahi gets his first big spotlight on this track and he proves why he is on the recording. You have to admire and love his off-playing. Sam Trapchak solos meaningfully before Pete McCann turns on an understatedly electrifying guitar solo and then plays over against the horns in an exquisite example of over-crowding in a hot Jazz counterpoint kind of way.

“Lily” is sweet and romantic. It is energetic and lovely. Sax and trumpet speak in dialogue of her while the electric keyboard contributes its own ode. The bass and drums stroll and step delightfully and McCann rhapsodizes in agreement. Varmus saves the last word for himself.

“Nidal” bounces in with the horns in corps progression and the rhythm section is tight lock-step. Varmus’ trumpet lead drives ahead as bass and drums propel from behind. This could be the tightest number on the album. Piano, bass and drums simply thunder on this track. I admit that Coleman stole my attention.

“Zeina” gives all the artists a spotlight. Varmus, Assadullahi, McCann and Thompson are in together and the melodic expression is lovely Jazz. Trapchak and Coleman put forth stellar rhythmic backing. Varmus and Assadullahi are in great partnership as McCann works in and out of the piece.

“Lyra” is a live piece. It swings beautifully. Light-hearted and energetic, Broc Hempel turns in hot piano work. Pete McCann is his usual cool self and the horns punctuate the melody with staccato punches.

“Apostolos & Stelios” continues live with the same line-up. Varmus has a more pronounced lead role and continues to show why he got the commission for both his writing and his performance. Assadullahi gets an absolutely sublime sax solo. It definitely bears repeated listening.

McCann and the rhythm gang slide into a great bit before Varmus returns to the lead. Trapchak and Coleman are just on fire together. There are a dozen great elements to this track. You just need to hear it.

“Selena” opens with the cool sounds of the muted trumpet and the swing of the bass and drums. McCann accompanies finely before the piano takes over briefly. Hempel is back on piano and adds his own unique flavor as he leads then backs up Varmus. McCann contributes the ever-so-sweet tones to make this track a big score.

“Elma” (from track 1) is reprised live for the next track. MCCann again opens the piece with cool harmonics and delicate touch. Varmus doubles with McCann and the live version (almost two minutes longer than the studio version) is every bit as wonderful as the piece has proven to be. The live atmospherics truly do contribute to the great feel of the overall piece. This track gets me.

Conversely, “Lyra” goes into the studio to conclude the album. The speed and deliberateness is so tight. Same with “Elma,” both are given studio and live incarnations. So nice, you need ‘em twice.

Jacob Varmus’ “Aegean” is as warm and lively as the sea it is named for. Like laying on one of its namesake’s beaches, the experience of this album gives a feeling of the rejuvenating air and water that makes one sigh in comfort and in the joy of life.

The compositions on Aegean are first-rate and the musicianship is second-to-none. It is an album that has landed solidly on my shelf of favorite CDs—to be accessed very frequently.

Thank you, Apostolos Georgopoulos, wherever you are.
 


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2017
    February 2017
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    Aaron Parks
    Akira Ishiguro
    Ches Smith
    Chuck Van Haecke
    Dewa Budjana
    George Colligan
    Goh Kurosawa
    Helen Sung
    Jack Dejohnette
    Kai Kurosawa
    Keith Jarrett
    Matt Mitchell
    Oscar Noriega
    Osmany Paredes
    Peter Erskine
    Pseudocidal
    Ruben Rodriguez
    Sharp Three
    Simakdialog
    Steven Kroon
    Susan Clynes
    Thierry Maillard
    Tim Berne
    Tim Berne's Snakeoil
    Tom Guarna

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.