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Owen Howard: Time Cycles
Time Cycles is a rhythmically luxuriant album with many cutting-edge improvisations. In listening, one travels through an intelligently paced and varied set of contemporary-sounding originals (the only cover is John Coltrane's "Giant Steps ). It is also quite interesting to hear Howard lead the group from behind his kit.
Like Howard, his companions are highly skilled instrumentalists. The New York-based unit, also including free-spirited pianist Gary Versace, stalwart bassist John Hebert, and reedmen Andrew Rathburn and John O'Gallagher, happily hovers between unabashed abstraction and tradition-rooted swing.
What's most striking first compositionally is the use of an overriding melodic phrase across the album. The melody of the triptych "Kalimba 1-2-3, titled after the African idiophonic instrument, is arranged and harmonized differently throughout the recording. The first instalment of the phrase, with its oozing and intertwining superimposed patterns, as well as the first variation's rockier 5/4 beat and the light-headed last variation, act as aural landmarks and help unify the session.
"Slow Day, with its John Scofield/Joe Lovano-like feel, eases its way well into an alto sax/drums duet, O'Gallagher's tearing Coltrane-influenced solo on "Cryptic, and the innovative vamp at the end of "Giant Steps. The pensive melody of "Quiet Peace/Piece showcases the softer side of the unit, especially in the outhead, where Rayburn and O'Gallagher lock horns quite sumptuously.
Track Listing
Derailer; Kalimba 1; Slow Day; Cryptic; Sonny-Side Up; Kalimba 2; Tu-Tone Poem; Giant Steps; Quiet Peace/Piece; Kalimba 3.
Personnel
Owen Howard
drumsOwen Howard: drums; Andrew Rathbun: saxophone; John O'Gallagher: saxophone; Gary Versace: piano; John Hebert: bass.
Album information
Title: Time Cycles | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Fresh Sound New Talent