Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Erik Friedlander: Prowl

241

Erik Friedlander: Prowl

By

Sign in to view read count
Erik Friedlander: Prowl
The seeds for Topaz were sown in 1996 when Erik Friedlander was scoring the dances for his wife, Lynn Shapiro's New York show, which he later performed with Andy Laster and Stomu Takeishi. There was enough empathy between them to inspire Friedlander to write some new tunes. But there was something missing: they needed more rhythmic complexity. Takeishi suggested that they ask his percussionist brother Satoshi to sit in. He did, and the pieces fell into place.

This is the Topaz quartet's fourth CD. The music focuses on African rhythms, but Freidlander goes beyond this to gather motifs of the pan-Arab/African region. And while the beat may be pumped, Friedlander does not forsake atmosphere, in which he saturates his compositions. In doing so, he makes this album catch the light.

Friedlander is a cellist who gets the most out of his instrument. His bowing is deep and draws all the pith and passion, driving emotion right into the soul of each composition. "A Dangerous Game is as fine a testimony as any. The vibrancy and the shadings he invests in his playing as he navigates the range of the cello are strong creative forces. And what begins as warm and coaxing, in marked melodic sonority, soon turns into an animated conversation among the voices of the band where form is scuttled.

Percussion and cello offer an enticing look into "Chanting. Takeishi sets up the rhythm and Friedlander plays with singular warmth, letting the melody wash across and soothe. Laster adds the final lure with a more pronounced, incendiary path to offer contrast. Shifting meters mark "Howling Circle, which has plenty of free movement; Freidlander changes path and scope with high frequency. For the listener, there is no gainsaying which way his muse will lead, but the Takeishi brothers have that well ingrained in their anticipation. An angular trajectory from Laster is the final tantaliser on this intensely satisfying tune.

Track Listing

Howling Circle; Anhinga; Prowl; Chanting; 7th Sister; Rain Bearers; A Dangerous Game; A close Walk With Thee; Najime.

Personnel

Erik Friedlander: cello; Andy Laster: alto saxophone, clarinet; Stomu Takeishi: electric bass; Satoshi Takeishi: percussion.

Album information

Title: Prowl | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Cryptogramophone

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

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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