Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Emily Hay: Like Minds

182

Emily Hay: Like Minds

By

Sign in to view read count
Emily Hay: Like Minds
Emily Hay comes in off the bench to smack one over the center field wall on Like Minds. A ubiquitous presence on the West Coast improv scene as a pianist, vocalist, and flutist, Hay works as an entertainment copyright paralegal, radio DJ/host, promoter, and soundtrack producer and supervisor—when she's not playing with Vinny Golia, Jeff Kaiser, Adam Rudolph, or any of her many ongoing projects. Her first recording as leader collects twelve tracks recorded over ten years, boasting a stellar array of Pacific improvisers all feeling the magic.

Call to Unarm opens like a kabuki play, with Brad Dutz and Joe Berardi percussing along with Hay's free flights and violinist Ronit Kirchman. Kirchman urges a variety of sound from the violin, and both she and Hay bring fearless vocalese. Lisle Ellis' electronics and Marcos Fernandes' field recordings create a dreamscape for Hay's virtuoso flute flights and vocals on the beautiful "Liturgy of Sound. Michael Whitmore's guitar and Hay's diabolical vocal on "A Year and Two Weeks combine for a sound reminiscent of Bongwater, with Dutz on thereminesque synthesizer.

Wayne Peet's understated piano provides the incense for Hay's meditation on Boiled Cadillac. Jagged edges and wavering tones play "Crooked Hopscotch, with Michael Intriere's cello bobbing and weaving. Hay seamlessly weaves vocals and flute with Sara Schoenbeck's inventive bassoonistics. The ever-present Dutz sounds like at least two percussionists.

The title track trio includes Kurt Heyl's roaming trombone with Kirchman's violin slash and Hay's peripatetic piccolo. All three vocalize. "Wha' 'Bout features a trio of Hay with Steuart Liebig and Rich West. Liebig's bass throb shadows Hay's floating vocal, giving way to West's rolling rhythm. Liebig goes to funky town and Hay rides the alto along with him.

Now in the spotlight and off the sidelines, Emily Hay arrives to find her place among like minds.

Track Listing

Call to Unarm; Liturgy of Sound; A Year and Two Weeks; Boiled Cadillac; Crooked Hopscotch; We Are; Like Minds; Wha' Bout; Spar; Waiting for Sara; Hibiki; Swamp Moss.

Personnel

Emily Hay- flute, alto flute, piccolo, voice; Wayne Peet- piano; Lisle Ellis- electronics, bass; Steuart Liebig- bass; Rich West- drums; Brad Dutz- percussion, synth, melodica; Joe Berardi, Marcos Fernandes- percussion; Michael Whitmore- guitar; Ronit Kirchman- violin, voice; Michael Intriere- cello; Kurt Heyl- trombone, voice; Sara Schoenbeck- bassoon.

Album information

Title: Like Minds | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: pfMentum

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.