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Peter Slavov: Little Stories
ByFantasy, family, literature and life as we know it all play a part in the telling of these tales, but at the root of it all is Slavov's resounding bass. Whether serving as a harmonic pivot, an instrument of energy or the central voice, it's always on point. All of that is made clear within the first two numbers. Both enhanced with strings, they essentially cover two different sides of the same coin: "Prologue: Glide" references a dream of flight, ably manifested in the leader's catalytic lines, and "Gone," with its episodic introductions and flowing ideals, comes to terms with the nightmare of loss which accompanied Slavov's father's passing.
Further on, within the looser confines of "Bye," Slavov expands on his connection to his father with some help from the core band of pianist Nitzan Gavrieli, drummer Diego Ramirez and multi-reedist John Ellis (on bass clarinet). It's one of the most engrossing pieces on the program, but no single song, including that one, manages to capture the leader's multi-dimensional being. It takes the entire album to really cover his individualistic qualities.
As each story unfolds, the bassist lays out different parts of his past while inviting various friends to join in and highlight different facets of his writing. "Small Little Things," nodding to an unnamed important figure in Slavov's life, brings Mark Small's bass clarinet into a wondrous scenario; "History of Beauty," referencing Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being, welcomes Mi Kim's wordless vocals and Marcio Philomena's guitar to a gorgeous Brazilian stream of thought; and the reflective "A.M.," recalling midnight walks through the snowy streets of Sofia in Bulgaria, offers both Mark McLean's understated drumming and Matt Marantz's inviting tenor saxophone a place at the table.
In the endand, literally, at the endSlavov leaves us with a reminder that, despite displays of kinship and connection, music retains certain solitary suggestions in its birthing and being. The semi-improvised "Elegy," putting the focus squarely on the bassist, proves to be a fitting way to close out a compelling program which speaks volumes about one man's history and artistry.
Track Listing
Prologue: Glide; Gone; Small Little Things; Photos; Bye; History of Beauty; Ghost; In Defense Of The Minotaur; A.M.; Elegy.
Personnel
Peter Slavov
bassJohn Ellis
saxophone, tenorMatt Marantz
saxophoneDan Kaufman
pianoNitzan Gavrieli
pianoMark McLean
drumsDiego Joaquin Ramirez
drumsMarcio Philomena
guitarEntcho Todorov
violinPatti Kilroy
violinJen Herman
violaYves Dharamraj
celloAdele Stein
celloMi Kim
vocalsAlbum information
Title: Little Stories | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Slavov Music
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Peter Slavov
Album Reviews
Dan Bilawsky
Scott Thompson Public Relations
Little Stories
Slavov Music
Nitzan Gavrielli
Diego Ramirez
John Ellis
Mark Small
Mi Kim
Marcio Philomena
Mark McLean
Matt Marantz