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Eskelin - Alcorn - Formanek: Mirage
ByAlcorn's artistry embeds an elastic underpinning into the grand schema. With abstract balladry, solemn explorations and supple flurries, Formanek's multi-purposed attack establishes the cadence for many of these works. The trio navigates through a mélange of sound-sculpting mechanisms, to complement certain movements that elicit notions of a warm blanket enveloping fragile three-way dialogues.
Alcorn's streaming treatments, summon a far-away place on "Divergence." But the trio mixes it up in true jazz-improv style, containing some hustle and bustle along with a sense of urgency during the pesky "Saturation." Formanek's many-sided articulations include nimble plucking maneuvers and contrapuntal support for the soloists, yet "Refraction" is designed on a spacey call-and-response oeuvre by Eskelin and Alcorn that could summon imagery of a mild-mannered dispute.
One of many positives relate to the musicians restraint and ongoing feedback, sparking a throng of subtle micro-themes, engineered with mutable tonalities and shadings. Even though the album firmly rides the experimental spectrum, nothing is overcooked or compounded by excessive soloing extravaganzas. The artists conspicuously respect the overall objectives by crafting a musical statement that communicates a great deal of forethought prior to execution.
Track Listing
Rain Shadow; Meridian; Divergence; Saturation; Absolute Zero; Refraction; Occlusion; Downburst; Mirage.
Personnel
Ellery Eskelin: tenor saxophone; Susan Alcorn: pedal steel guitar; Michael Formanek: double bass.
Album information
Title: Mirage | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Clean Feed Records
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Eskelin - Alcorn - Formanek
CD/LP/Track Review
Glenn Astarita
Clean Feed Records
United States
New York
New York City
Rolling Stones
Yes
Susan Alcorn
Michael Formanek
MIRAGE