Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Eric Revis Quartet: In Memory Of Things Yet Seen

Eric Revis Quartet: In Memory Of Things Yet Seen

By Glenn Astarita
April 25, 2014
View read count

Track review of "The Shadow World"

Eric Revis Quartet: In Memory Of Things Yet Seen

Bassist Eric Revis has performed and recorded with saxophonist Branford Marsalis' bands since 1997, and is a first-call session artist. Marsalis appears on two tracks for the bassist's third solo date on the progressive Portugal-based label, Clean Feed Records. The core quintet features a formidable frontline with tenor saxophonist Bill McHenry and alto saxophonist Darius Jones. And diversity is a key driver during a host of jazz-centric formats, constructed on scrappy maneuvers; contrapuntal statements, quirky rhythmic jaunts, and ballsy, hard-hitting grooves. The album also contains pieces that are modeled with swarming, episodic free style dialogues, perky bop fabrications and exploratory ruminations.

Revis introduces Sun Ra's "The Shadow World" with a complex bass passage that also triggers a degree of anticipation of how the piece will develop. Hence, the saxophonists enter into the picture with compact unison phrasings, elevating the festivities to a soul-stirring pitch and leaving space in between choruses atop Chad Taylor's blustery drumming. Hence, a torrential downpour ensues, and a sense of urgency takes center stage via the soloists spiraling discourses amid seething crescendos. Moreover, the rhythm section operates at a feverish pace, leading to a red-hot apogee. Ultimately, Revis skillfully aligns prominent artistic values into a contrasting set of compositions, perhaps highlighting his worldly experiences as a consummate jazz musician whose visionary outlook comes to fruition once again.

Track Listing

Personnel

Eric Revis

bass

Eric Revis: bass; Chad Taylor: drums; Bill McHenry: tenor saxophone; Darius Jones: alto saxophone; Branford Marsalis: saxophone (5, 11).

Album information

Title: In Memory Of Things Yet Seen | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Clean Feed Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Girl with Robot and Flowers
< Previous

Live at Manggha
Next >

Eric Revis Concerts

Sep 10 Wed

Tarbaby (Orrin Evans, Eric Revis, Nasheet Waits)

Arts + Literature Laboratory
Madison, WI

Sep 28 Sun

Branford Marsalis Quartet

Zellerbach Theatre
Philadelphia, PA

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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.