This multinational cast led by pianist, Ursel Schlicht renders some downright invigorating improv on Sound Quest. With the opening piece titled “Sound and Fury,” the soloists’ engage in dynamic interplay, where bassist, Ken Filiano steers the band into a blistering romp via his swiftly executed walking bass lines. However, the quintet moves about in climactic fashion as they institute swirling choruses amid trombonist, Steve Swell, and alto saxophonist, Martin Speicher’s excitable flurries. Ms. Schlicht frequently provides the budding undercurrents, largely due to her massive block chords and fluently articulated arpeggios. Everyone plays a crucial role throughout, whether it’s drummer, Lou Grassi’s polyrhythmic wizardry or Swell’s pathos-laden phraseology on, “Implications.”
The musicians’ seemingly fabricate their motifs upon a multi-tiered approach, as if they are attempting to subliminally sneak up on you via a profusion of unexpected twists and turns. But there are some quiet moments, especially during “Sound Quest,” as Swell renders softly stated lyricism in concert with a memorably melodic hook. With the piece titled “Crescendum,” the ensemble abides by a crash and burn manifesto, thanks to Schlicht’s gushing crescendos and Grassi’s gyrating rhythmic developments. Recommended.
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.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.