Seth Meicht: Trio & Illumine

Seth Meicht Trio Cadence Jazz Records 2006	Seth Meicht Illumine CIMP 2006

Saxophonist Seth Meicht has understood the power of the great tenors - Coltrane, Rollins, Hawkins, etc. - and has been able to create music that puts that power into a beautifully expressive setting. His trio with bassist Matt Engle and drummer Lonnie Solaway reflects a world of artistic curiosity and quest for knowledge. Meicht seeks the essence of groove and swing as well an individual sound and approach and he succeeds without pretension or artifice.

"The Goal opens his Trio album with an insistent yet open series of phrases - the music moves forward in a way that is both emphatic and questioning. Each player is part of the question and yet helps to make definitive answers. Or, if not answers, then impassioned new questions. Every tune comes forth like that. These players do not overpower you with their statements but rather sensitively involve you in their quests.

And then on Illumine they invite another player on their journey. Tenor saxophonist Matt Bauder joins the trio in what Meicht describes as an "exploration of swing, altissimo, long tones, pure sound, sub-tone, unison and harmonized lines, group improvisation and solo improvisation. That's a lot to tackle but the compositions create situations that, says Meicht, "are in line with our styles as well as contrasting them. Meicht and Bauder seek out both the power and the delicacy of the tenor sax. In an extended composition like "The Sounds We Make , the group ethos is about "illumination - of the textures and colors that allow a group to make music that expresses individuality but finds the common humanity in us all.

Tracks and Personnel

Trio

Tracks: The Goal; DWB; Visions of Change; The Sounds We Make; On the Tracks.

Personnel: Seth Meicht: tenor saxophone; Matt Engle: bass; Lonnie Solaway: drums.

Illumine

Tracks: Everything is Everywhere; Invisible Moments; Resonator; Blue Smiles; 44; Dualing Diptychs; Illumine; The Enormous Room.

Personnel: Seth Meicht. Matt Bauder: tenor saxophone; Matt Engle: bass; Lonnie Solaway: drums.

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