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Ryan Burns: Birds
ByBirds opens with the title tune that he introduced on the Another Morning CD. The sound glows into existence on luminescent electric keys at a measured pace. The dry, tart sound of Mark Taylor - Saxophone's alto saxophone seeps in, counterpointing the Fender Rhodes gleam with Burns' stick-in-the-mind melody. "June Bug" has an eerie, exploration-of-another-planet vibe, with bassist Geoff Cooke and drummer Jose Martinez supplying an altered gravity rhythm behind the leader's otherworldly safari.
"Humility" has an earthbound soundsoulful and late at night, with a half a bottle of bourbon on the table beside the empty glasses---while "PIP" jitters along, with Taylor sounding edgy on the alto.
"Turbulence" opens with Bach-like grandeur, drifting in no particular direction with an amorphous structure and orchestral electric keys. With "Blues for Hadley," a nod to Origin Records stable mate Hadley Calimana marvelous Straight Ahead (Origin Records, 2009) tenor saxophonistBurns and the group steer things back almost into the middle of the mainstream.
The set closes out with "Slip Away," a relaxed, bluesy tune featuring the leader on Hammond organ and Cooke handling the melody on this pastoral gem, wrapping up a shining set by one of jazz's rising stars.
Track Listing
Birds; June Bug; Humility; P.I.P; Turbulence; Blues for Hadley; Slip Away.
Personnel
Ryan Burns: Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, Moog Synthesizer, Wurlitzer; Geoff Cooke: electric and upright bass; Jose Martinez: drums; Mark Taylor: alto and tenor saxophones.
Album information
Title: Birds | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Odd Bird Records
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