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Carl Michel: Music in Motian
ByMusic In Motian, by Emmy winning guitarist Carl Michel and his quartet of bassist Dan Kolton, drummer Alex Trajano and piano-man Mick Dobday is an astute and finely curated, crisply performed collection of the drummer's canon. "India" and "Mode VI" are elegantly ringing, hushed ballads. "In the Year of the Dragon" captures the inherent sense of time Motian's drumming, and composing, heralded, while pianist Dobday colors in the spaces.
Straining-to-cut-into-free-form "Abacus" cuts with a harder edge. Again Dobday holds sway until Michel comes in with the rockiest tone his instrument will have throughout the proceedings. Though brief, "Birdsong" lingers like honeysuckle on an errand breeze. It is on these, as well as "Osmosis," a delicate tumbling with the rhythm section rippling like a lake; the gentle "From Time to Time," and "Arabesque" wherein drummer Trajano conjures the composer with every whispery cymbal flourish and rap-a-tap, that Michel and company uniquely distill all of Motian's many syncopations and melodic shadings. A neat trick indeed.
Track Listing
India; Mode VI; In The Year Of The Dragon; Abacus; Birdsong; Osmosis; From Time To Time; Arabesque; It Should Have Happened A Long Time Ago; Circle Dance.
Personnel
Carl Michel
guitarCarl Michel: guitar; Mick Dobday: piano; Dan Kolton: bass; Alex Trajano: drums.
Album information
Title: Music in Motian | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Play On Records
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