Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jacob Duncan: Invisible House
Jacob Duncan: Invisible House
ByLouisville-based Saxophonist Jacob Duncan's "Liberation Prophecy" ensemble offers up some very interesting out-of-box and envelope-pushing fare in Invisible House. This is a highly eclectic landscape in which Duncan and his cohortsboth vocal and instrumentalsatisfy by offering wildly diverse sonic and rhythmic textures. There's a flavoring of just about every tonal seasoning here with Duncan's obvious compositional influences ranging from late genius Frank Zappa (and Zappa's own Stravinsky-flavored p-p-p-pulses) ("You," "Invisible House") to Mr. Intergalactic, Sun Ra and sorceress Carla Bley. There's even a hint of chorale-introduced Nouveau Country ("Let's Not Pretend").
The ten selections tend to be weighted vocal with Carla Johnson taking hold of the refined lyrics and generating a canyon-wide range of emotion from brooding to joy ("Wish I May"). Johnson's vocal instrumentwhile not similarly enormous in rangebears an uncanny resemblance to the late Minnie Riperton. She's silvery smooth, yet sly and sexy as she twists lyrics with emotional power ("Tip Toe"). The ensembleobviously buying into both the simplicities and complexities emanating from Duncan's penplays with energy and humor. There's limited extended soloing, although trumpeter Kris Eans blows fire on "Tip Toe."
Duncan, a generous leader to his band, demonstrates his fine saxophone chops and gorgeous sound in select spots ("The Lazy Mist"). As composer/arranger and lyricist, he develops and colors his unique ensemble arrangements well, superbly enhancing (and not crushing) the vocal lyric. There's underlying humor and quirkiness here, toosardonic "Killer Clowns"-like laugh-out-loud hoots on "Fortress" for example, and a build-to-a-storming-climax nature portrait on "Nova Vite."
While not attempting to be all things musically liberating, Invisible Houseis certainly an intriguing, highly expressive free-wheelingalmost provocativeartistic effort. That much is very easy for ears to "see."
Track Listing
You; Fortress; Wish I May; Let’s Not Pretend; Invisible House; The Lazy Mist; Tip toe; Death from Above; Consolations; Nova Vite
Personnel
Jacob Duncan
saxophone, altoJacob Duncan: alto saxophone, flute, Rhodes, vocals; Carly Johnson: vocals; Michael Hyman: drums; Craig Wagner: guitars; Chris Fitzgerald: double bass; Steve Good: tenor saxophone,bass clarinet, clarinet; Chris Fortner: trombone; Kris Eans: trumpet;
Album information
Title: Invisible House | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Self Produced
Comments
About Jacob Duncan
Instrument: Saxophone, alto
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To