Artie Roth Quartet: Resonants

Although composed during the Covid pandemic, the ten tracks on Artie Roth's Resonants give no ground to despair or gloom. Rather, the Toronto- based bassist aims for a more hopeful register here and, with the help of the sympathetic members of his fine quartet, he delivers. A strong lyrical sensibility and an ability to find a winning groove are also in evidence, resulting in a well-constructed album which holds up well over multiple encounters.

This is Roth's third quartet release, following 2015's Currently Experiencing and 2017's Discern, and it has the feel of a veteran project, with saxophonist & flutist Mike Filice and drummer Anthony Michelli a part of those earlier ventures. The newcomer here is guitarist Sam Dickinson, and he plays a vital role in providing both atmosphere and a tuneful disposition, ideal for Roth's capacious and engaging compositions. Also pivotal is Filice, whose own convincing way with a melody leavens a number of these pieces.

Fittingly enough, the album begins with a brief feature for Roth, whose searching solo on "Sound and Sky" builds its subtle beauty over a bed of ambient electronics—just enough to provide a congenial setting for Roth's rich, melodious reverie. But from there the album hits a more dramatic register, with the hard-grooving "Sky Blues" showcasing Michelli's restless work on the drumkit, as both Filice and Dickinson get enticing solo opportunities. "Circle Maker" heads in a very different direction, possessing a poignant power courtesy of Filice's soprano sax and Dickinson's restrained support, with electronic effects again supplementing the group's sound. Roth switches to electric bass on this cut, and it creates a beguiling contrast with Filice's yearning cries; the bassist once again goes to his electric axe for the first portion of "Second Moment," where his nimble musings are the perfect foil for Dickinson's fleet acoustic guitar, before Filice eventually enters for the piece's emotionally potent theme and the band again finds its groove.

This is one of those albums which can be appreciated on multiple levels. While the caliber of the musicianship is consistently strong, Roth's melodicism allows the pieces to be enjoyed simply for their tuneful attributes. "Refrain" and "Resonants—Chandelier Tears" are both representative of Roth's ability to craft earworms which can carry a listener away, without getting caught up in the intricacies of a well-played solo or a tricky rhythm. All of which is to signal the possibility of Roth's band having some serious staying power, as well as the potential of reaching a wider listenership beyond the narrower confines of post-bop jazz.

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