Tim Turvey: Autodidactic

In this brief four-song debut EP, the Brantford, Ontario native demonstrates sharp, thundering skills on his primary instruments as a percussionist. The piano, clarinet, bass and guitar work is all his doing as well.

As well as being an independent musician, Turvey is a member of Ragaffaire, a Hamilton-based group playing music of Northern India & Hindustani origins. He is also a member of the indie rock group No Orchestra and the free improv In Orbit Trio. Other projects include partnerships with the Association of Improving Musicians Toronto, AIM Calgary and the Kitchener-Waterloo Improvisers Collective.

Although jazz fusion fans will eat Autodidactic up, a particular style is not easily identifiable in this roughly 15-minute project. Turvey could be mistaken for Cecil Taylor during the menacing keyboard attacks of "Improv For Thirteen." Piano and clarinet hiccup, starting and stopping in a meandering march. Quiet and loud, strange, chunky beats erupt after nearly five minutes of the EP's most daring moments.

"Strict Nine" is Turvey's answer to Paul Desmond's "Take Five." A swinging highlight of the CD, it is driven by the drone of the clarinet, leading into a bold bop chorus.

The smooth, drum-free "In Pulse" continues the instrumental theme through to the end track. It is a peaceful conclusion to a release full of creatively bent modern jazz, pumped full of life by a pilot of percussive pathways.

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