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David Ake: Lake Effect
ByAke perfectly connects this music to the title of the record, mixing cool and glacial forms with hotter surfaces. The mellow(er) tracks hew toward a wistful and mystical aesthetic. "Lone Pine (For Charlie Haden)," the brief and placid album opener, is the first number to fall into that category. Further down the line there's "Tricycle," a zen-jazz episode that builds into something bigger before returning to a meditative state; "Hills," which finds saxophonist Peter Epstein and Ake floating atop a sea of serenity; "Silver Thaw," presenting this quartet in a state of repose that involves metallic rustling, two slowly see-sawing chords, and simple utterances; and Egberto Gismonti's "Palhaco," which pairs Epstein and Ake in a gorgeously heartbreaking setting.
The remaining tracks, interspersed between the spacious and introspective offerings, provide injections of energy. "The Cubs" is a choppy and gleeful piece; "Two Stones" is hip in an understated way; "Returning" is spry, whether swinging or stammering; and the rhythmically reconstituted take on Monk's "Bye-Ya" is pure fun. And then there's "Lake Effect," a piece that runs the mellow-to-energetic gamut. Bassist Sam Minaie sets the scene there, gently moving over Ake's piano. Then, it's Epstein's saxophone, Ake's firm chordal support, and Mark Ferber's Brian Blade-ish drum work that help the song take flight.
On every piece here, Ake proves to be a gifted communicator, performer, and composer. His simplest compositions are soothing, heart-on-sleeve expressions and his feistier feats are imaginative and accessible gems that get the heart racing.
Track Listing
Lone Pine (For Charlie Haden); The Cubs; Tricycle; Two Stones; Hills; Bye-Ya; Silver Thaw; Palhaco; Returning; Lake Effect.
Personnel
David Ake
pianoDavid Ake: piano; Peter Epstein: soprano saxophone, alto saxophone; Sam Minaie: bass; Mark Ferber: drums.
Album information
Title: Lake Effect | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records
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