Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Falkner Evans: Arc

157

Falkner Evans: Arc

By

View read count
Falkner Evans: Arc
There has been considerable effort to redefine the means of expression regarding the standard jazz trio of piano, bass and drums. The world of contemporary popular music has been mined to provide unexpected material. Electronica furnishes additional textures which, perhaps, belie the inherent simplicity of a trio. Nevertheless, there are traditional stalwarts working to solidify the mainstream genre.



Pianist Falkner Evans' lack of cover story support within the industry is certainly not an indication that there is a deficit of talent; his playing and compositions are world class. He left his native Tulsa, Oklahoma for New York City in 1985 and, since that time, has quietly played in and around the city. He credits Kenny Barron as a major influence, and Evans' rich textural hues, aided by a gentle propulsion, certainly make the parallel an apt and descriptive comparison.



Arc is Evans' third release as a leader. He retains the services of drummer Matt Wilson, but replaces Cecil McBee, who played on Evans' two prior releases, with a long-time colleague—veteran bassist Beldon Bullock. It is evident that these musicians have been playing together for years.



Of the nine performances, five are Evans' original compositions. "Regatta starts the set with crisp and tight articulation. The melody is simply stated, and the group immediately speaks with one another in satisfying interaction. "Singing Darkness is slower paced but, with wisps of urbane conversation, is shrouded with a bit of mystery.



John Coltrane's "Central Park West is given a languid performance, tinged with hints of resignation and exhaustion. One can feel the chilled autumn air and see the rust colored trees. The melody is stated several times by Evans, without any real or particular development, but the melody is sufficiently haunting as to be satisfying.



With the majority of the tracks being between five and six minutes in duration, the proceedings are sometimes brisk. The listener may wish for more of an opportunity for group conversation. Instead, one should be satisfied with compact performances of depth and integrity.



At times, after a grueling day that has demanded an inexhaustible supply of mental acuity and physical stamina, one craves a dollop of predictability and a generous portion of ease. Falkner Evans delivers such music with exemplary style and technical facility. This is music to enjoy for the sheer exuberance of playing beautifully.

Track Listing

Regatta; Singing Darkness; Central Park West; Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum; Bar Enigma; Lucia's Happy Heart; Make Tracks, Child; Come Rain or Come Shine; Lost in the Stars.

Personnel

Falkner Evans: piano; Beldon Bullock: bass; Matt Wilson: drums.

Album information

Title: Arc | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Consolidated Artists Productions

Tags

Comments


PREVIOUS / NEXT




Support All About 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 make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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

Eternal Moments
Yoko Yates
From "The Hellhole"
Marshall Crenshaw
Tramonto
John Taylor

Popular

Old Home/New Home
The Brian Martin Big Band
My Ideal
Sam Dillon
Ecliptic
Shifa شفاء - Rachel Musson, Pat Thomas, Mark Sanders
Lado B Brazilian Project 2
Catina DeLuna & Otmaro Ruíz

Get more of a good thing!

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

Install All About Jazz

iOS Instructions:

To install this app, follow these steps:

All About Jazz would like to send you notifications

Notifications include timely alerts to content of interest, such as articles, reviews, new features, and more. These can be configured in Settings.