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Hashem Assadullahi: Pieces
ByAssadullahi's returning partners here are guitarist Justin Morell and trumpeter Ron Miles, who yearly receives the "artist deserving wider recognition" award for his playing. The saxophonist augments Tyler Abbott (bass) and Ryan Biesack (drums) with pianist James Miley.
To Assadullahi's credit, the music ranges in style and tone. Opening with the Eastern feel "Prized Possession," and the closing track "The Missing Piece," he knits together the ethereal and spiritual sounds, à la John Coltrane, of both a serious and inquiring mind. A pretty, self-possessed ballad, "The Harbinger," finds the saxophonist playing a poised soprano saxophone line over, then around, the warm tones of Miles. The music is confidently arranged throughout. "Digging Out" by James Miley, could easily be mistaken for a Dave Douglas composition. The band pounces upon their prudent interplay, meshing notes to create an unperturbed swing.
Assadullahi ventures back to the heyday of the 1960s Blue Note sound with "Fingersticks," a piece that could've been imagined by Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson. The sextet mines a more contemporary approach with "Dark Tower" and "User Error," which feature Miley and Biesack, respectively. The almost throwaway piece, "Pretty" is a take on 60s pop music. While its simplicity suggests BJ Thomas singing a Burt Bacharach tune, its melody gets lodged in the mind's eternal loop. And that really is not a bad thing.
Track Listing
Prized Possession; The Straight Man (Walking the Dog on a Sunday); Pretty; The Harbinger; User Error; A Bag of Oranges; Digging Out; Seal Island; Fingersticks; Dark Tower; The Missing Piece.
Personnel
Hashem Assadullahi
saxophoneHashem Assadullahi: saxophones; Ron Miles: trumpet; Justin Morell: guitar; James Miley: piano; Tyler Abbott: bass; Ryan Biesack: drums.
Album information
Title: Pieces | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: OA2 Records
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About Hashem Assadullahi
Instrument: Saxophone
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