Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jamie Stewardson: Jhaptal

99

Jamie Stewardson: Jhaptal

By

Sign in to view read count
Jamie Stewardson: Jhaptal
The downside of more accessible jazz education is a proliferation of young players who speak the language but lack the kind of spark that marks great jazz. And as "the new mainstream incorporates broader harmonic and rhythmic palettes, it's becoming even more difficult to avoid sounding purely cerebral. Not that there's anything wrong with an intellectual approach, but music also needs a physical component as well, something that speaks to the listener on a more instinctive emotional level.

Jhaptal is one of those records that straddles the line, at times providing a compelling mix of head and heart, elsewhere missing the mark by a hair's breadth. But guitarist Jamie Stewardson is a relative newcomer on this, his second release, and he demonstrates considerable potential. Stewardson studied with John Abercrombie and Mick Goodrick—whose "outside looking in approach is a clear reference point—and he also wears the influence of John McLaughlin and, perhaps even more so, the blues roots of John Scofield on his sleeve.

While Scofield's writing is invariably concerned with strong themes and visceral grooves, Stewardson is occasionally defeated by his own cleverness. For example, on the 5/4 piece "Cruel Traps, he adopts a slightly overdriven tone, navigating the challenging changes with ease. The top-notch players in the group, including the increasingly ubiquitous saxophonist Tony Malaby, bassist John Hebert and drummer George Schuller, make the tune seem effortless. But Stewardson's solo, while filled with invention, lacks the emotional resonance to elevate it to a more transcendent place.

Still, the lightly funky groove and singable theme of "Dig Muse," which traverses shifting bar lines in an intriguing fashion, are somehow more approachable, and Stewardson's solo hits the mark more successfully. Combining lightning-fast runs with the occasional bent note, Stewardson sounds as if he's thinking less and feeling more. But Tony Malaby—at first on his own, with Stewardson providing dissonant comping, and then soloing in tandem with the guitarist—raises the temperature. Hebert and Schuller respond instinctively, making for an exciting listen.

Vibraphonist Alexei Tsiganov is another new name and, like Stewardson, he demonstrates plenty of promise. His four-mallet work behind Malaby on the metrically challenging—but, thanks to Hebert and Schuller, still swinging—"T Can Shuffle creates a harmonic space that pushes Malaby yet also leaves him free to direct. His own solo, backed by Stewardson's close-voiced accompaniment, demonstrates a liberated view that should be interesting to watch unfold over time.

Jhaptal has high aspirations that it doesn't always meet. But there's plenty of evidence here of a focused player and thoughtful writer here to make it worth hearing, both on its own merits and as a reference point for future efforts.

Track Listing

T Can Shuffle; Bubbles; Jhaptal; Combinatoriality; Rest Area; Olive Oil; Cruel Traps; Dig Muse; For Dale and Roberta.

Personnel

Tony Malaby: tenor saxophone; Alexei Tsiganov: vibraphone; Jamie Stewardson: guitar; John Hebert: bass; George Schuller: drums.

Album information

Title: Jhaptal | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Fresh Sound New Talent

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.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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