Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Yelena Eckemoff: A Touch of Radiance

334

Yelena Eckemoff: A Touch of Radiance

By

Sign in to view read count
Yelena Eckemoff: A Touch of Radiance
It's fulfilling to hear an artist evolve. In this regard, Yelena Eckemoff has heeded callings definable only by the language of the spirit. The Russian-born pianist and composer comes from a rigorous classical background, and within those parameters has shaped a quiet yet assured corpus of jazz albums stretching back to 2006's The Call. Since then she has assembled numerous ad hoc bands, caressing ebonies and ivories alongside Arild Andersen, Marilyn Mazur, Peter Erskine, and many other established names in the field. On A Touch of Radiance she finds herself in the supernal company of tenorist Mark Turner, vibraphonist Joe Locke, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Billy Hart. As the self-styled Yelena Eckemoff Quintet, they forge an astonishingly delicate soundscape.

Recorded at New York's legendary Avatar Studios and averaging seven minutes each, the album's ten originals show Eckemoff to be a democratic catalyst. Her atmospheres possess integrity, not least of all for their intimation. As such, titles like "Reminiscence" and "Exuberance" are no mere descriptors, but reflections of more complex emotional states. (True to form, Eckemoff provides a poem in the CD booklet for each respective track.) "Affection," for one, is not as dulcet as one might expect, but ruminates in shadows, chromatic dissonances, and treats memory not as a canvas but as underdeveloped film. Turner brings a river's flow to this unusual tune, contrasting with Locke's brighter energies. "Pep," for another, sparks even more idiosyncratic flames. These flicker through Eckemoff's playing, which here achieves gnarled brilliance. Turner emotes in striations, not pillars, and again shares lovely crosstalk with Locke's mallets.

None of which is to say there aren't any overtly programmatic moments. Tracks such as "Reminiscence," "Exuberance," and "Radiance" are exactly what they purport to be. The first of these is notable for Hart's pastel monologue, the second for Mraz's foundry, and the third for Eckemoff's raindrop pianism, sparkling and free. And all of them are shuttled through a loom of childhood memory and innocent wanderings through pastures to which one becomes blind in adulthood.

Other tunes float somewhere in between, achieving deepest insight in the album's zenith, "Reconciliation." Not only is it Eckemoff's finest studio achievement, but its dovetailing of melody, mood, and magic draws her collaborators into some inspired being. Turner in particular gives the breadth of his abilities to small worlds through effortless unpacking, making of them universes unto themselves.

Of the bandleader's own playing we are treated to tasteful selections in the set's most somber turns. In the melting snow of "Imagination" and more impressionistic "Tranquility," her touch remains gentle and unobtrusive, forever invested in the beauty of the everyday. As in the album's opener, "Inspiration," she finds greatest happiness in exactly that.

Whether occupying foreground or background, she is the gentle adhesive that sticks every finished photo into the emerging diary. For that's exactly what this album feels like: a familiar volume to the clasp of which each musician adds ornament, able to be unlocked only by a listener's curiosity.

Track Listing

Inspiration; Reminiscence; Exuberance; Affection; Pep; Imagination; Reconciliation; Tranquility; Encouragement; Radiance.

Personnel

Mark Turner
saxophone, tenor
Joe Locke
vibraphone

Yelena Eckemoff, piano; Mark Turner, tenor saxophone; Joe Locke, vibraphone; George Mraz, bass; Billy Hart, drums.

Album information

Title: A Touch of Radiance | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags


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

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

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.