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Joe Morris Quartet: Balance
ByThe gala is off to a rousing start on "Thought," fostered by Mat Maneri's buzzing viola passages, and the unit's synchronous improvisational attack, as the musicians' fluent, Johnny-on-the spot courses of action remain a constant throughout. However, they temper the pulse with the brooding "Trust," where Morris' dark-toned electric lines, executed with twirling flurries and intricately devised constructions, form a clustering effect atop bassist Chris Lightcap's huge bottom. Otherwise, the band abides by a fast and furious gait as they navigate through a maze of micro-motifs, churning out cohesive statements along the way.
The quartet closes the program with the twelve-minute "Meaning," instigated by Morris' flickering notes; Lightcap's linear phrasings and shrewd counterbalancing techniques. Drummer Gerald Cleaver's textural cymbals swashes help broaden the backdrop, as Maneri rides above the musical horizon amid a fractured and twisting solo spot. Hence, the ensemble works toward a centralized focus, while gradually narrowing the overall soundscape in spots. Cleaver also imparts a sweeping solo in the bridge section, ratifying an expansive plane to complement the effervescent groove. Among other positives, Morris' quartet is a unit you can count on for extending the limits of whatever improvisational model(s) they process, coinciding with the artists' dynamic interactions and dizzying rhythmical measures.
Track Listing
Thought; Effort; Trust; Purpose; Substance; Meaning.
Personnel
Joe Morris
bass, acousticJoe Morris: guitar; Chris Lightcap: bass; Mat Maneri: viola; Gerald Cleaver: drums.
Album information
Title: Balance | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Clean Feed Records
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About Joe Morris
Instrument: Bass, acoustic
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Balance