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Chris Mondak: Blank With Colour
ByThis is a most musical recording, the kind to get the listener to a better place. It is good for the soul and relaxing, but hardly a lullaby. Because some of the writing and playing is impressionistic, the music, and there is more than an hour here, almost feels as if it has a program. As the cover art suggests, it could be the soundtrack to a bright day after a snowfall, or, for that matter, any other pleasant experience that comes to mind.
"Skunk Funk" opens with a sax riff and bass break. Everyone eventually gets into the act. "Cruel to Be Kind" features keyboard and sax and some straight-ahead electric bass. "Begetting" is a sax statement; rhythmic back beat, nice keyboard and bass at the bottom. "Lofi" is a little more laid back, with relaxed keyboard. "Wake Up" is a straight 24-bar blues that gets the juices flowing and ends up cooking. "Walking on Sunshine" is a nice calypso that bounces along, dropping a few sly quotes here and there. "Affirmations" is music that gets a listener somewhere, anticipatory and bright, featuring really nice guitar work by Jack Macklin. "Complicated" is not really, going in a straight line from start to finish. "With You" is evocative too, reflective, after heading home from its opening triplets.
This is enjoyable, sophisticated, high-level playing. Mondak and Company deserve the wide audience they seem to get.
Track Listing
Skunk Funk: Cruel to Be Kind; Begetting; LowFi; WakeUp; Walking in Sunshine; Affirmation; Complicated; With You; Everybody Knows.
Personnel
Chris Mondak
bassDan Hitchcock
saxophone, tenorGabe Feldman
pianoJack Macklin
guitarRyan Brasley
drumsAlbum information
Title: Blank With Colour | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Summit Records
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Chris Mondak
Album Review
Richard J Salvucci
Blank With Colour
Summit Records
Dan Hitchcock
Jack Maclin
Gabe Feldman
Nashville