Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Marc Rossi and Ben Schwendener: Living Geometry

175

Marc Rossi and Ben Schwendener: Living Geometry

By

Sign in to view read count
Marc Rossi and Ben Schwendener: Living Geometry
Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock pulled it off, yet recordings of jazz-centric piano duets are generally few and far between. And while Boston, MA based pianists Marc Rossi and Ben Schwendener may not represent household names, this effort recorded live at a concert hall in Cambridge, MA hits the mark in a variety of ways. With this release, the pianists’ improvisations were either individually planned or assembled as a unit. They also incorporate theorist/composer George Russell’s groundbreaking, Lydian Chromatic concepts into the mix. Essentially, the artists’ avoid collisions and awkward moments by design, or so it seems. On “Dancing with Laws,” they integrate a touch of contemporary classical to complement avant-garde inclinations and mainstream fare. However, part of the beauty resides within their shifting movements and quaint lyricism via an overall gait that stirs notions of a gently flowing mountain stream. The duo delves into boogie-woogie amid variable rhythmic structures, free jazz, and airy swing grooves on the multifaceted piece titled “A&P Swing.” Here and throughout, Rossi and Schwendener concoct subtle melodies in concert with alternating statements while utilizing Russell’s now infamous harmonic language as a core framework. The musicians delve into contrapuntal maneuvers on “Dancing with Laws II,” while also venturing into minimalist territory. Regardless, this is a very special endeavor, marked by the contrasting tonalities of their grand pianos and mutual comprehension of what needed to be accomplished. A beautiful affair it is! (A top pick for 2002)

Gravity Records

Track Listing

1.Dancing with Laws 2.Living Geometry I 3.A&P Swing 4.Concious Evolution I 5.Dancing with Laws II 6. Concious Evolution II 7.Solo Ben 8.Solo Marc 9.Living Geometry II 10.Latin Bondage

Personnel

Marc Rossi, Ben Schwendener

Album information

Title: Living Geometry | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Gravity Records

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

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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