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Fourthought: Fourthought
ByBiello's torrid alto saxophone opens the set, scorching the hard-hitting, straight-ahead "Laurceny," dotted with Weyand's solos. The ensemble turns down the volume on the following "Rumi-Native," a delicate and sophisticated waltz highlighting intense play from Chok, with the co-leaders assuming a more supportive role. The familiar "Green Dolphin Street" takes some unfamiliar improvisational twists, adding something new to the oft-recorded standard. The saxophonist turns to the soprano voice on "Intercession," a long, mid-tempo ballad offering much solo space for the band members to express themselves.
Coming in hard and heavy for a funky landing, the "Arrival" comes as the album's most aggressive piece, featuring Chok on Fender Rhodes, accompanying Biello's firm alto phrases. From heavy to light and tender, the music shifts quite nicely on "A Change of Heart," as Weyand takes to the brushes, laying down a soft and cushy foundation for Biello and Chok, who play smoothly on the set's top-notch ballad. The intricate "Amethyst" is the disc's most ambitious new take, with Biello's soprano voice leading the group on a twelve-minute, modern-styled jazz improvisation, closing the set with a bang rather than a whisper.
Fourthought is a successful beginning, a debut that impresses with its glimpse of a new, cutting-edge modern jazz. This is modern post-bop material not left to chance or a hunch, but designed to be well-received by this talented quartet.
Track Listing
Laurceny; Rumi-Native; Green Dolphin Street; Intercession; Arrival; A Change of Heart; Amethyst.
Personnel
Fourthought
band / ensemble / orchestraNicholas Biello: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone; Manuel Weyand: drums; Cameron Kayne: acoustic bass; Kerong Chok: piano, Fender Rhodes.
Album information
Title: Fourthought | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Self Produced
Comments
About Fourthought
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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