Home » Jazz Articles » Multiple Reviews » Gerry Hemingway Twofer: Less is More & Demon Chaser

289

Gerry Hemingway Twofer: Less is More & Demon Chaser

By

Sign in to view read count








WHO Trio
Less is More
Clean Feed
2009


Gerry Hemingway Quintet
Demon Chaser
hatOLOGY
2009


Much seems to have gone down in the decade since Michel Wintsch, Gerry Hemingway and Banz Oester released Identity on Leo. That was a solid piano jazz record with hints of the quietude that was, apparently, to come. For their new release, they succeed in finding a new parcel in that melodic minimalism that has Miles Davis, Philip Glass and The Necks as its borders. The title Less is More may be a bit of a cliché, but in this case it couldn't be truer.

The pieces (most group compositions, with two credited to Oester) work in repetition and momentum to build their dynamic, leaving enough space that every accent becomes dramatic. Oester's bass is, necessarily and wonderfully, a solid foundation. Wintsch endlessly recreates melodies, managing quick ideas within slow progressions. Such an expanse gives Hemingway an enormous field in which to play. He is always inventive, but here he sounds as if he's been instructed to play a solo as slow as he could. The elements come together in an odd, enormously pleasing way, with a sort of placid restlessness.

Hemingway has long been a welcome accomplice in the Amsterdam scene. The concert rendered to record on the recently reissued Demon Chaser dates back to 1993, Hemingway employing names familiar within that city's Instant Composer's Pool (American ex-pat saxophonist Michael Moore, trombonist Wolter Wierbos and cellist Ernst Reijseger) for the outing, bringing in bassist Mark Dresser for the other side of the rhythm section. Five of the pieces were penned by Hemingway and are played with a celebratory energy by the band. The sixth, a broad sweep of a take on "Night in Tunisia," perhaps gives indication of the scope and assuredness with which the group plays. The theme is barely hinted at for the first half of the piece's 12 minutes, the horns circling without striking. For the second half, they only get a little closer to the original and yet it's always there. That feeling of collective certainty is felt just as strongly on Hemingway's pieces, even if the themes aren't known ahead of time to the listener. Perhaps that is something that always makes the New Dutch Swing work: as long as all the players are thinking of the same song, they don't really have to play it. Hemingway clearly knows how to use that strength to his advantage.


Tracks and Personnel

Less is More

Tracks: Inside the glade; Still alone; The Pump; Wedding suite; Stardance; Hasna; The Eastern Corner.

Personnel: Michel Wintsch: piano; Banz Oester: bass; Gerry Hemingway: drums.

Demon Chaser

Tracks: Slamadam; A Night in Tunisia; Buoys; Holler Up; Demon Chaser; More Struttin' With Mutton.

Personnel: Michael Moore: alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet; Wolter Wierbos: trombone; Mark Dresser: double bass; Ernst Reijiseger: cello; Berry Hemingway: drums and steel drums.

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.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

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