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Walter Smith III / Matthew Stevens / Joel Ross / Harish Raghavan / Marcus Gilmore: In Common
By"YINZ" is a more obvious collective improvisation, the melody instruments clambering over one another but still affording space to each musician. "ACE" opens with a fleeting and enchanting musical box effect, the tenor sax introducing a captivating melody which is soon rejoined by the ensemble but still retaining a mesmeric feel. This melody is also tantalizingly revived on the two-minute album-closer, "ACE (Reprise)," but here with just saxophone and guitar.
A satisfying head arrangement opens the short but swift "Baron" while, by way of contrast, guitar and bass lead off on the dreamy, crab-like "13th Floor," with tenor saxophone pursuing the melody, eventually joined by Joel Ross' scintillating vibes and Marcus Gilmore's snap-crackling drums. There's more of this electrifying drumming on the boppish "About 360," with foot-tapping support on bass from Harish Raghavan.
This democratically credited release proves an excellent debut for the quintet and a follow-up should be eagerly anticipated.
Track Listing
freefive; Unsung; YINZ; ACE; foreword; Baron; 13th Floor; About 360; Unconditional Love; ACE (reprise).
Personnel
Walter Smith III: tenor saxophone; Matthew Stevens: guitar; Joel Ross: vibraphone; Harish Raghavan: double bass; Marcus Gilmore: drums.
Album information
Title: In Common | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Whirlwind Recordings
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