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Carlo De Rosa's Cross-Fade: Brain Dance
ByDe Rosa might consider himself well blessed to have tenor saxophonist Mark Shim sharing the date, alongside drummer Justin Brown and pianist Vijay Iyer. Having musicians who are connected by the common breath of the soul is truly a rare happenstance and the result is four bodies vibrating as one. This, in turn, produces the music's fibrillations that rocket through "Circular Woes" and the title track. It also results in the aching balladry of "Maja," however the magic here is described in the waning blood-burst that fires the dallying downward shift of the music. Iyer shines with the deliberate nature of his exclusively chosen notes and echoing pedaled arpeggios leading up to a deep and dry solo from Shim's smoky saxophone. There is a swelling seriousness and unbridled playfulness in the music on this album, the suggestion of which turns the music from a somewhat menacing noir to brightly sunlit and plasmatic. This music of changing colors suggests the multi-dimensionality of De Rosa's ingenious playing.
Carlo De Rosa gives notice that he is a serious contender for consideration in the same lineage from which Oscar Pettiford sprung. So, by definition, De Rosa is brazen and forthright. He makes music on a bass alright, but he is so melodic that a hidden thematic line seems to flow from the parabolic lines issued from his bass. Like Pettiford, De Rosa is also a master of harmonic progression. The manner in which he plays off Shim and Iyer is magical in a contrapuntal way. And he inhabits such a low register so low it is barely above a growl. But he also sings in higher sounding registers like a fluttering madrigal on this fine album.
Track Listing
Circular Woes; For Otto; Maja; Headbanger's Bawl; Brain Dance; Terrane/A Phrase; Route 17.
Personnel
Carlo De Rosa
bassCarlo De Rosa: acoustic, electric bass; Mark Shim: tenor saxophone; Vijay Iyer: piano, Fender Rhodes; Justin Brown: drums, cymbals.
Album information
Title: Brain Dance | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Cuneiform Records
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Carlo De Rosa's Cross-Fade
CD/LP/Track Review
Carlo De Rosa
Raul D'Gama Rose
Cuneiform Records
United States
Mark Shim
Justin Brown
Vijay Iyer
Oscar Pettiford
Brain Dance