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Sam Newsome and Jean-Michel Pilc: Magic Circle
ByPianist and bandleader Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood" opens with almost baroque refrains of Newsome's rich, meditative saxophone. Pilc's tolling piano provides a dark undertone. When Newsome and Pilc finally launch into the actual melody they endow it with melancholic dissonance and perfectly expose the timeless vibrancy of Ellington's masterpiece.
Elsewhere, Pilc's crystalline, blues-tinged keys and Newsome's angular, crisp lines reconstruct pianist Thelonious Monk's "Misterioso" with inventiveness and deference. Pilc seamlessly and with whimsy weaves in quotes from Monk's "Crepuscule with Nellie." Newsome's bittersweet tones blow with reserved passion over Pilc's resonant pianism.
There are two originals on the recording one of which is the mystical title track. Pilc plays dramatic note clusters that echo against Newsome's unfettered flittering soprano. Newsome injects into his contemplative song atonal wails and sharp, heartfelt harmonic fragments. Pilc's expectant rolling chords underscore the turbulence of Newsome's acerbic, emotive solo.
One of the gems on this uniformly brilliant recording is saxophonist John Coltrane's "Giant Steps." Pilc recreates the main theme from a flood of arpeggio filled phrases. Newsome deftly manipulates the piece adding intriguing ideas and peppering it with his own spontaneity. The constant metamorphosis of the duos rendition is in keeping with Coltrane's adventurous spirit.
There are many other exquisite readings of these jazz classics, none, however are like Magic Circle. The uniqueness of this Newsome and Pilc collaboration lies in the way they reconstruct these works, expressing free-flowing individuality and simultaneously exposing the ingenuity of the compositions themselves.
Track Listing
Autumn Leaves; In a Sentimental Mood; Giant Steps; In a Mellow Tone; Magic Circle; Misterioso; Auto-Schediasm; Out of Nowhere; Ask Me Now.
Personnel
Sam Newsome
saxophone, sopranoSam Newsome: soprano saxophone; Jean-Michel Pilc: piano.
Album information
Title: Magic Circle | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Self Produced
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About Sam Newsome
Instrument: Saxophone, soprano
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