Fiddlin’ Around The Coltrane Way. Jim Nolet has two John Coltrane pieces on his new disc Syzygy. This would not be unusual for a reeds-based disc, but Nolet plays strings...the violin and viola to be exact. “Central Park West” is played as a beautiful ballad and “Countdown” a halogen hop. Coltrane is demanding enough for the reeds. It shows Nolet’s musical stones that he would consider this material much less record it.
Six Degrees of Separation. I have always thought the violin was a difficult jazz instrument that even the best players can come up sounding just a little off base. Nolet plays some of the most satisfying jazz violin I have heard recently. The opening Latin shuffle of Stanley Turrentine’s “Shirley” finds Nolet whipping out centrafugally, creating in fractured integrity held together by concept and design. Bryan Carrott’s vibes are a delight, ringing against the dry tang of Nolet’s playing. That Latin thing reappears on the disc closer, Ellington’s “Angelica”. Nolet’s playing is smooth and expressive.
Endgame. Syzygy is an eclectic chestnut, and essential confection of difficult music played on a difficult instrument. Really, this is the most satisfying jazz violin disc I have heard since...well, since I’ve been listening!
Track Listing
Shirley; Central Park West; Mr. Rodrique; Tycoon; Syzygy; Love Can See; Sshhh
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.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.