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Yelena Eckemoff: Lonely Man and His Fish
BySo, how does a young mother from Moscow, settled in rural North Carolina, unknown in the jazz world, connect with and eventually employ such a top-of-the-line list of jazz players to help her present her artistic vision? The guess here, formed after a phone conversation with the artist, a fearless directness combined with a guileless personal approach, a bit of friendly, low-key audacity, unwavering determination, and a justified confidence in the quality of the art she is creating.
2015 was a breakout year for Eckemoff. Two of her finest albums, Lions and Everblue, both on L & H Records, came out that yeartwo all-star ensembles showcasing Eckemoff's superior compositions and her themed approach to making albums. She continues in that tradition on Lonely Man And His Fish, music built around Eckemoff's story about a retired orchestral trumpeter player (the lonely man) and his retirement present pet fish, Spark.
Trumpeter Kirk Knuffke plays the lonely man part; Japanese flautist Masaru Koga supplies the voice of Spark. The story, included in the liner booklet, has the feel of a simple children's tale. Much of the music has a whimsical quality, with engaging melodies and complex, classical-like harmonies. Trumpeter Knuffke sounds quintessentially American, drawing from funk and New Orleans traditions; flautist Koga brings in the Eastern tinge, and the rhythm sectionEckemoff, bassist Ben Street and drummer Eric Harlandare impeccable and imaginative in their support and their embellishments to the story-telling.
The 2 CDs worth of music on Lonely Man And His Fish brims with joy and the exhilaration of creation. Eckemoff's theme-based offerings take another step forward in complexity and positivity. What might be next for the pianist-composer? It is impossible to say; she follows her muse from pride of lions to nocturnal animals, from colors to wildflowers, from the desert to blooming tall phloxesinspirations from unlikely places transformed into marvellous works of art.
Track Listing
CD 1: Lonely Man; Pet Store; First Evening at Home; Breakfast for Two; Man and His Fish; Accident; In Hospital. CD 2: Into the Wild; Life in the Pond; Survivor; Empty House; Song for Spark; Call of Friendship; Dreaming Together.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Lonely Man and His Fish | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: L&H Production
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