Yuhan Su: Liberated Gesture

A remarkable feature of vibraphonist Yuhan Su's captivating fourth release as a leader, LIberated Gesture, is its cohesiveness and narrative quality. Even though only three tracks are part of a suite, common motifs and logical transitions interconnect all ten. This and the sublime balance between the emotional and the cerebral endows the work with its enchanting impressionism.

Pianist Matt Mitchell sets an expectant mood on "Naked Swimmer" with his percussive and sparse chords. Mitchell, together with drummer Dan Weiss' splashing cymbals and bassist Marty Kenney's resonant lines weaves a gently swaying backdrop. Su, with her chiming mallets, states the intimate melody with hints of angularity. The four musicians then merge their individual streams of consciousness into a crystalline sonic structure which brims with mysticism.

Su, ever the democratic leader, does not monopolize the spotlight but allows her colleagues plenty of room to solo. On the dramatic "Didion," dedicated to the award winning author Joan Didion, alto saxophonist Caroline Davis first blows the main theme with yearning passion and then takes center stage with a serpentine improvisation which meanders far from the tune yet remains in its spirit. The tense ambience is punctuated by rousing collective vamps. Mitchell's breathtakingly agile, arpeggio-filled, pianism adds to the delightful restlessness of the piece.

The melancholic "Liberated Gesture II: Arc" opens with Mitchell's tolling notes. Su echoes Mitchell's keys with her reverberating mallets as the two engage in a wistful duet. Su's incandescent extemporization shimmers at the core of this vibrant rhythmic framework. The movement concludes with a lullaby- like serenity.

Weiss starts off the multi-meter "Liberated Gesture III: Tightrope Walk" with his polyrhythmic beats. Kenney's lithe bass and Mitchell's cascading tones add angular layers to the performance. Su joins in, with her effervescent phrases creating a dance-like four-way conversation. The repartee gives way to Mitchell's thrilling acrobatics which then fade into the collective sound, setting the stage for Su's equally sprightly extemporization.

In contrast "Liberated Gesture III: Hartung's Light" is more languid and smoldering. Su's richly sonorous strikes form the core of this warm, charming performance around which coalesce the others' refrains. Kenney solos with lyricism and eloquence followed by Mitchell and Su, each of whom contributes radiant and relaxing spontaneous monologues. The result is the perfect homage to Hartung's artistry.

With LIberated Gesture Su has created her most ambitious project to date, one she pulls off with masterful panache. The album showcases her mature reserve and subtlety as well as her superlative musicianship and leadership skills. This recording is definitely a high point in her uniformly superb career.