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Devin Gray: Dirigo Rataplan
ByFrom the opening "Quadraphonically," this quartet works as an organic unit, where the shifting roles of all four musicians create a bigger whole. Gray is a natural drummer, with a distinct, imaginative musical languagerhythmic, colorful and intelligent, yet melodic and accessible. Formanek expands Gray's rhythmic palette and roots it down with his impeccable sense of time. Ballou adds a beautiful, lyrical sound and Eskelin takes the music anywhere he wants.
Gray's compositions vary in their spirit but all are open to improvisation. "Down Time" ebbs and flows naturally through gentle shifts in its funky rhythmic pattern, leaves enough room for Eskelin to soar over the hypnotic polyrhythms. The homage to modernist composer Charles Ives, "Prospect Park After Dark," is serene and contemplative, featuring Gray's impressive and delicate mallet solo of Gray. On "Talking with Hands," Gray energetically dictates the intensity of Eskelin and Ballou's flights, while "Otaku" is an evasive and restless improvisation without any attempt to sketch a clear structure. The contemplative and reserved dedication to drummer Gerald Cleaver (Gray's mentor) on "Thickets," emphasizes the group's emphatic and telepathic interplay through minimal sonic articulations. The closing "Katahdin" is an infectious, joyful melody, manifested patiently by Eskelin and Ballou, both pushed by the driving pulse set by Gray and Formanek.
A highly creative document by a rare and gifted musician.
Track Listing
Quadraphonically; Cancel the Cancel; Down Time; Prospect Park in the Dark (For Charles Ives); Talking with Hands; Otaku; Thickets (For Gerald Cleaver); Katahdin.
Personnel
Devin Gray
drumsEllery Eskelin: tenor sax; Dave Ballou: trumpet; Michael Formanek: bass; Devin Gray: drums.
Album information
Title: Dirigo Rataplan | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Skirl Records
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