If you're familiar with All About Jazz, you know that we've dedicated over two decades to supporting jazz as an art form, and more importantly, the creative musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made All About Jazz one of the most culturally important websites of its kind in the world reaching hundreds of thousands of readers every month. However, to expand our offerings and develop new means to foster jazz discovery we need your help.
You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky Google ads PLUS deliver exclusive content and provide access to future articles for a full year! This combination will not only improve your AAJ experience, it will allow us to continue to rigorously build on the great work we first started in 1995. Read on to view our project ideas...
Dutch guitarist/composer Michiel Stekelenburg expands his group to a quintet for his second album as a leader. Joined by saxophonist Efraim Trujillo, pianist Jeroen van Vliet, bassist Guus Bakker, and drummer Pascal Vermeer he presents a sharp set of contemporary jazz originals. The opener "024" begins with folk guitar strumming, a sound recalling Pat Metheny, clearly a significant influence. That impression is confirmed by the implied dedication in the closing tune's title "Letter To Missouri" (Metheny's birthplace).
The strumming is followed by the insistent odd-meter ostinato of "Spudneck," then the ballad "The Nephilim." Trujillo sings on the long saxophone line of the theme, and the leader turns in a lyrical guitar solo. "Slowpoke" earns its title by the long, slow build over the course of the piece: this is a band that can hold back when necessary. "Viñales" (presumably taken from the name of a small Cuban town) features acoustic guitar layered with electric guitar, and a subtle Latin feel.
The aptly named "Jazzz" gives the group a chance to swing in an alternating section with walking bassTrujillo and Stekelenburg blow hot on this one. "Morning Song" showcases the saxophone again, with an exciting solo over the closing vamp. The previously mentioned "Letter To Missouri" closes the album on a chamber jazz note. Acoustic guitar and Bakker's bass play a duet, which is eventually joined by an overdubbed electric guitar solo: a lovely, low key ending.
An excellent, varied set of contemporary jazz. Stekelenburg shines as composer and guitarist, and his fine band never fails to deliver. I look forward to hearing more from all of them.
Track Listing: 024; Spudneck; The Nephilim; Layers; Slowpoke; Viñales; November; Jazzz; Bloom; Morning Song; Letter To Missouri.
Jazz combines creativity from the mind, heart, and the gut. It flourishes through structure and uses melody and rhythm to bridge the musician's creativity and the listener's
imagination.
I try to appreciate all forms of music and styles of jazz but find myself drawn to the hot music of the twenties through the early thirties, including its many contemporary
incarnations
Jazz combines creativity from the mind, heart, and the gut. It flourishes through structure and uses melody and rhythm to bridge the musician's creativity and the listener's
imagination.
I try to appreciate all forms of music and styles of jazz but find myself drawn to the hot music of the twenties through the early thirties, including its many contemporary
incarnations. Obscure and forgotten musicians of that period also interest me. I also enjoy Baroque and Classical music; much of that repertoire actually shares jazz's
emphasis on improvisation, creating tension over an underlying ground rhythm, and exciting formal variation.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.
Thanks for joining the All About Jazz community!
If you shop at any of the stores below, please initiate your purchase from All About Jazz. When you do, All About Jazz will receive a sales commission.