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Greg Ward's Fitted Shards: South Side Story
ByWard's potent band, Fitted Shards, and his powerful music are the fruits of an artist focused enough to seek his own voice, as Ward states in the CD's liner notes, "I felt that this album was the most concise way to convey my story." This music that unfolds is fresh, decisive, and piercing, reminiscent in tone to any number of today's progressive releases, but sounding like nothing other than Ward's uniquely daring vision.
The music's fortitude discards any notion of trying to fit a niche; Ward's Influences encompass a plethora of ideas and textures, with clear composition and seething improvisation. Commencing with "Segue," a whirlwind begins like a galactic rock opera, yet shifts into a melodic groove with an infectious sax/organ harmony.
The tracks then unfold like chapters in a book, with unexpected and exciting events lurking around every corner. The pulsing heartbeat of "All In" contains a lush canopy provided by Ward's colorful synthesizers, as well as a section where Kirchner's provides exotic percussion. The contemplated "Castle of Ice" is like the calm before "Step Forward's" storm, with its distortion feedback and grainy organ tones, as Ward's saxophone darts between the changes.
The two longest tracks are powerful statements of Ward's intent. The title track, at eleven-and-a-half minutes, begins with the whispered hushes of instruments. Growing in momentum, it morphs into a powerful solo piano spot for Rob Clearfield. Ward then joins the fray, and the two lead voices soar into the clouds. "Fitted Shards" is its counterpartnot only in length, but also in creativitythe disparate themes like shattered fragments as Ward confirms, "the song is about those broken, smashed pieces of everything that I am." The group brings them together perfectly, as only consummate musicians cana piece that moves through intricate channels with the sounds of Clearfield's wild keyboards, Ward's seething alto, and a conclusion that is as uplifting and spiritual.
Incisive and cerebral, Ward's debut is as cutting as his group's name.
Track Listing
Segue; All In; Castle of Ice; Step Forward; Instructions; South Side Story; Like Mozart; University of Opportunity; Fitted Shards.
Personnel
Greg Ward: alto saxophone; composition; Rob Clearfield: keyboards, piano, synth; Jeff Greene: upright and electric bass; Quin Kirchner: drums, percussion.
Album information
Title: South Side Story | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Nineteen Eight Records
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