Bill Frisell / Thomas Morgan EPISTROPHY - ECM Records

Refraction: Inerrant Space

By MARK SULLIVAN
August 17, 2016
Sign in to view read count

$Refraction: Inerrant Space$

Refraction is an Australian piano trio led by drummer Chris Broomhead, who also composed most of the music. He is joined by pianist Brenton Foster (who contributes two tunes) and double bassist Jordan Tarento. Inerrant Space definitely does not sound like a "drummer's album." It's very much a group sound, as the collective group name implies. Broomhead makes his mark by his writing and sensitive playing: there are no drum solos.

The music is bright, lyrical and impressionistic, along the lines of the more extroverted ECM artists like the Tord Gustavsen Quartet and Stefano Bollani. The brief title tune (the only one co-composed by the entire group) serves as an atmospheric scene-setter. "329" opens with arpeggiated chords, then builds a structure around them. Tarento's bass solo segues into a bridge with a melody doubled by the piano.

Pianist Foster's compositions take the band into slightly more conventional piano trio territory. "All To Do" includes the closest thing to a drum solo, as Broomhead plays freely under the closing vamp. "Kodak Hill" has a melodic and rhythmic structure reminiscent of Chick Corea. Other memorable tracks include the ballad "Rest, Regain" and "Cosmic Orphan" with its rhapsodic, rubato opening featuring arco bass. Closer "Boho Church" has a gospel feel, as implied by the title. It brings to mind another ECM reference, the many Keith Jarrett pieces with that feel. A fitting close to a thoroughly enjoyable album by a group with their own voice.

Track Listing: Inerrant Space; 329; Never Since; All To Do; Rest, Regain; Kodak Hill; Departure; Echoes; Cosmic Orphan; Boho Church.

Personnel: Chris Broomhead: drums; Brenton Foster: piano; Jordan Tarento: double bass.

Title: Inerrant Space | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Rare Colour Records

Album Reviews

Reimagined by Mark Sullivan
Inerrant Space by Mark Sullivan

Recent
Popular

Read Live in Newcastle, December 8, 1972

Album Reviews

Buy Now

Five Roads by Mauricio de Souza
Buy Now

Epistrophy by Bill Frisell
Buy Now

Walking to New Orleans by George Benson
Buy Now

Infinite Itinerant by Domas Žeromskas

Featured Video

2019 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert

Jazz In Melbourne

Events Guide | Venue Guide

Five Roads
Mauricio de Souza
Self Produced
Epistrophy
Bill Frisell
ECM Records
Walking to New Orleans
George Benson
Provogue Records
Simple Life
Paul Jost
PJ Music

Jazz Story

I was first exposed to jazz when at about age 12 I checked out from the local library (Chicago, IL) John Coltrane's “Giant Steps.” I couldn't play anything like that, and still cannot, but I began whistling extended lines all day every day
Read more

I was first exposed to jazz when at about age 12 I checked out from the local library (Chicago, IL) John Coltrane's “Giant Steps.” I couldn't play anything like that, and still cannot, but I began whistling extended lines all day every day. It just opened my mind to structured improvisation which is the foundation of much that I do today.
Show less

By Michael Moss
Member since: 2011

Refraction: Inerrant Space

Watch

Album Reviews

Five Roads by Mauricio de Souza

Epistrophy by Bill Frisell

Walking to New Orleans by George Benson

Infinite Itinerant by Domas Žeromskas