Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Madis Muul Hextet: Characters

2

Madis Muul Hextet: Characters

By

Sign in to view read count
Madis Muul Hextet: Characters
When cast in the light of antiquity, jazz is typically seen as vintage rather than retro. Yet in the case of Estonian pianist and composer Madis Muul, the latter would seem more apropos. In addition to featuring a full band, Characters is also privy to his adeptness with "old-school" synthesizers, flavoring the album with a touch of '80s cool mixed with contemporary sounds. Regardless of the subgenre into which he decides to place his songs, he clearly has an ear for music that is easy to listen to, making it accessible to those who would normally balk at anything outside their usual comfort zone.

Muul has arranged a large octet including bassist Raimond Magi, drummer Hans Kurvitz and guitarist Pent Jarve. They are also complemented by four clarinetists: Martin Kuusk and Daniel Aljo, respectively doubling alto and tenor saxophone, as well as Hans-Jurgen Kruus and Marten Altrov on bass clarinets. Despite the horn-heavy lineup, Characters never becomes a blowing session. Instead, Muul's compositions utilize his players in whichever way best serves the mood he is angling for. The party grows to a nonet on "Paper Animals," which features vocals written and performed by Marta Aliide Jakovski, and on "22:22 AKA Stargazer," featuring Achille Succi, yet another clarinetist, who splits the dreamy song in two with a guest solo.

Characters stands as a dual-meaning title, coming from both Muul's work writing live music for the theater as well as people he was inspired by, both fictional and real. Due to this connection, some of the music contained in the album has a slightly thespian poise. Forward-thinking songs like "Melancholistic" and "Cubist" are the sort of well-written jaunts in which he shows promise as an arranger, leading a large group through his compositions while managing to utilize the full breadth of the musicians available to him. The album isn't all serious. He demonstrates that he knows how to have fun on "Camel," wherein he lays a marching beat that challenges his menagerie of horn players to twist around it like separate gusts of wind through a narrow, crowded copse of birch trees. Calling upon his theatrical experience, he is capable of incorporating humor into even the most earnest production.

As a debut album, Characters augers a promising future for Madis Muul. While not a runaway masterpiece, Muul and his octet have taken to the effective approach of leveling their gaze both forward and back.

Track Listing

Cubist; Paper Animals; Melancholistic; Crook's Corners; 22:22 AKA Stargazer; Camel; The Big White Crab Spider Story; Stammer.

Personnel

Madis Muul: fender rhodes piano, synthesizer; Raimond Magi: bass; Hans Kurvitz: drums; Pent Jarve: guitar; Martin Kuusk: clarinet, alto saxophone; Daniel Algo: clarinet, tenor saxophone; Hans-Jurgen Kruus: bass clarinet; Marten Altrov: bass clarinet.

Album information

Title: Characters | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Soundway Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of 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 create 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.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve 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

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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