Heirloom: Familiar Beginnings

New music often serves a dual purpose. While it usually introduces fresh sounds, the music's structure generally contains a degree of familiarity, combining recognition with discovery. This idea of exploring new musical territory without abandoning its roots seems to be the guiding concept for the Milwaukee-based quartet Heirloom. With their debut album, Familiar Beginnings, they introduce a refreshing new sound grounded in jazz tradition.

The album's title hints at the intersection between discovery and remembrance, and Heirloom delivers on all counts. Co-led by guitarist Ben Dameron and drummer Hannah Johnson, the group also features Sam Taylor on tenor saxophone and Tim Ipsen on bass. Together, they craft a cohesive statement that merges melodic storytelling with a deep sense of musical craftsmanship.

Dameron's compositions are shaped by his classical training, drawing from jazz, classical, folk and cinematic traditions. Each song provides an ideal framework for balancing form and freedom. This is evident from the opening track, "Familiar Beginnings." The melodic and uplifting intro hints at nostalgia, but the novelty comes into play as the improvisation kicks in. This song is followed closely by "Eucalyptus Breeze," with a cool, bossa nova feel. Dameron's writing shows a gift for melodic complexity and emotional depth.

Johnson's contributions are equally defining. Her drumming is vibrant and conversational, always attentive to color and contour. On her arrangement of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's "Isfahan," paired with her original "Interlude," she offers a reflective centerpiece that underscores her sensitivity to pacing and tone. These two tracks, flowing seamlessly together, help capture Heirloom's ability to find beauty in understatement.

Elsewhere, the group stretches into more cinematic and groove-oriented territory. "Spice Trance," inspired by Frank Herbert's Dune (1965), builds from a hypnotic guitar riff into a cathartic blend of rhythm and improvisation. Dameron's impressive chops and melodic tone here, as with other songs on the album, seem inspired by Kurt Rosenwinkel. "Fake Block" lightens the mood with a playful theme and buoyant interplay, at times reminiscent of Frank Zappa. "Messages From the Deep" and "Indigo Tears" add emotional and atmospheric depth, providing a somewhat film-like quality.

Throughout the album, Taylor's tenor tone is full-bodied and expressive, evoking a variety of feelings and textures. Ipsen provides a solid foundation and grounding presence. Each of the musicians enters into a musical conversation where the playing avoids flash in favor of nuance. This interaction elevates the music from songs as a foundation for solos to a group playing into the imagination.

Though Familiar Beginnings sits comfortably within the modern post-bop world, it also resists categorization. The music is impressionistic without being vague, structured while alive with spontaneity. This album rewards close listening, blending familiar sounds with new horizons. As Dameron explains, "We wanted this record to feel like stepping into something new that somehow already feels like home." Heirloom's debut suggests that familiarity can be fertile ground for innovation, and that even first statements can sound fully formed.

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