Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tim O'Dell & Tatsu Aoki: Ancient Pines

116

Tim O'Dell & Tatsu Aoki: Ancient Pines

By

Sign in to view read count
Tim O'Dell & Tatsu Aoki: Ancient Pines
Through their spirited duo session, saxophonist Tim O'Dell and bassist Tatsu Aoki create a lovely chamber jazz atmosphere. They swing, experiment, solo comfortably, swing some more, and interpret this program of original compositions with creative passion. The arrangement of this true duo session allows each artist to step forward and contribute on an equal basis. Aoki bows his instrument and plucks with a lively rhythmic groove, while O'Dell soars lyrically with alto and soprano melodic sketches.

"Anticipation" finds the two artists in a musical conversation where call and response carry equal weight. O'Dell's alto wails mournfully with seamless phrases that belie his emotional designs. Much of the album contains the same kind of reflective quality. Carrying a blues foundation and providing plenty of room for spontaneity, the program connects intuitively with his audience.

Aoki parallels the saxophonist's refrains much of the time, stretching out only when their musical partnership opens a door for it. His creative energy complements the session with authority. As the duo romps on "Opinions," for example, you can feel the exotic flavors flowing from both directions. O'Dell is all over the place with excitement, while Aoki pumps up the festive mood with a rock-solid rhythmic foundation.

The album's title track, a three-part suite with the trombone sound of Ryan Schultz's bass trumpet factored in, takes us back to the roots of jazz and beyond. Grasping primitive elements and allowing them to take center stage, the trio explores communication from its earliest partnerships. Together, they move through serene landscapes and on to fiery surroundings. They create impressions that let their audience travel through time and space.

Track Listing

Textual; The Drive; Toddler; Anticipation; Rise & Fall; Ancient Pines Suite: (Fanfare/Squirrels; Old Growth; Majestic Perspectives); Come Here; Opinions; You Can't Find Me; Aphelion; Sneaky.

Personnel

Tatsu Aoki: bass; Tim O'Dell: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone; Ryan Schultz: bass trumpet (6).

Album information

Title: Ancient Pines | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Southport Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.