Wayne Horvitz: American Bandstand

Wayne Horvitz’s esteemed stature in modern music as a prolific composer-performer is undeniable. On American Bandstand, Horvitz and co. provide the listener with a diversion or intermission from previous Horvitz-“Zony Mash” releases as they tone things down a bit while pursuing refined elegance on delicately melodic and altogether stirring pieces such as “Ben’s Music” and the gently understated “Tired”. Horvitz and guitarist Timothy Young continue their enticing blend of richly stated chord voicings and sonorous unison lines on “Prepaid Funeral” as the pianist’s well-placed chords and crisp delivery speaks volumes. On this piece, the musicians turn up the heat as they pursue subtle dynamics and finger-snapping grooves via Horvitz’ Texas roadhouse style piano articulations and electric guitarist Timothy Young’s animated yet intentionally fragile picking and acute phraseology. Throughout, bassist Keith Lowe and drummer Andy Roth lay down the solid yet at times loose framework with a noticeable degree of consistency while ultimately remaining sympathetic to the overall picture. The musicians render a vividly colorful and impressionistic portraiture or canvass on the piece titled, “Little Man” as Horvitz and Young enact somewhat of a lamentable theme through sparsely implied yet appealingly melodic choruses that offer a glimmer of hope! From beginning to end the musicians allegorize personal and emotional sentiment without becoming morose or overly introspective; hence, the quintessential fine line in the imaginary sand prevents this wonderful recording from being a saccharine induced mess...

We would be of the assumption that American Bandstand should enjoy great success while expanding Horvitz’ seemingly loyal yet already substantial fan base into a greater realm of notoriety. Here, the group’s defining characteristics press onward as Amercian Bandstand is all about cultivated and unruffled elegance that moves forward ever so softly. * * * * ½

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