Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jon Weber: Simple Complex

108

Jon Weber: Simple Complex

By

Sign in to view read count
Jon Weber: Simple Complex
Don't start with the liner notes. If you do, you may be scared off from pianist/composer Jon Weber's Simple Complex. That would be a shame, because the disc is a joy to listen to, full of gripping tunes highlighted by a variety of delightful surprises. Delve too deeply into the liner notes, however, and it may soon appear that a PhD in mathematics is a prerequisite to placing the album in the player. Is there a more frightening way to begin a sentence than, "For a complete mathematical explanation..."?

Simple Complex is an apt title. The complexity so carefully elucidated in the notes is subsumed by the simple appeal of the music. Whether it's a sextet sizzler like "Hot Ice" or a cool duet ballad like "No More Words" (featuring Roy Hargrove delivering a wonderful performance on flugelhorn), Weber's compositions settle into undeniable grooves that belie the intricacy of their structures.

Paul McCandless' oboe solo on "While She's Dreaming" is a particular highlight, rendering a part another composer might have written for soprano saxophone a bit more exotic. Vocalists Alicia Reneé and Kurt Elling provide lovely wordless performances in "Is It Only Me?", the one track on the album that is perhaps best served by a quick peek at the liner notes before diving in. Throughout the disc, Weber's own playing is inventive and inviting. Indeed, all of the musicians on Simple Complex were in top form for these sessions—something made abundantly clear when it finally comes time to check out those notes. Weber is a serious creative force both as a player and a composer.

Track Listing

Hot Ice, No More Words, Drastic Steps, Mister Kleckley, Simple Complex, While's She's Dreaming, Is It Only Me?, Jolie, Whatever You Say, Triska Deka.

Personnel

Jon Weber
piano

Jon Weber, piano; Diego Urcola or Roy Hargrove,trumpet/flugelhorn; Eric Alexander, tenor sax; Avishai Cohen, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, Peter Washington, Matt Clohesy,acoustic bass or John Ovnik,electric bass; John Moulder,guitar; Mark Walker, drums, percussion; Jonas Johansen, drums, pandeiro; Ruben Alvarez,timables; Paul McCandless,oboe; Gary Burton, vibraphone; John Ovnik, sitar; Siri Sonty,tambura; Kalman Pathak,tabla;

Album information

Title: Simple Complex | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Unknown label

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter 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.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.