Musicians: Tsuyoshi Furuhasi (tenor sax, flute), Trevor Lagrange (piano), Shanir
Ezra Blmenkranz (bass), Reggie Nicolson (drums)
Review:
Tenor saxophonist, flutist and composer Tsuyoshi Furuhashi was born in Mitocity,
Japan. His background includes study with Takeru Muraoka and winning an award
at the Maizuru Redbrick Jazz Festival. Furuhashi’s been featured in Jazzlife
Magazine and the newspaper El Diario. This recording, Live In New York, Magenta,
was made live at The Stone in New York City on September 12, 2009.
This concert brings together Furuhashi’s band in a set of three originals and a
group free-jazz closer. The opening number, “Magenta,” incorporates brilliant hard
bop blowing and features a terrific solo by pianist Trevor Lagrange. The band is
truly of one mind as they negotiate the harmonic changes with deft, but light,
brilliance. Furuhashi is a solidly grounded and well-schooled artist whose use of
phrase and line places him solidly within the mainstream.
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Musicians: Tsuyoshi Furuhasi (tenor sax, flute), Trevor Lagrange (piano), Shanir
Ezra Blmenkranz (bass), Reggie Nicolson (drums)
Review:
Tenor saxophonist, flutist and composer Tsuyoshi Furuhashi was born in Mitocity,
Japan. His background includes study with Takeru Muraoka and winning an award
at the Maizuru Redbrick Jazz Festival. Furuhashi’s been featured in Jazzlife
Magazine and the newspaper El Diario. This recording, Live In New York, Magenta,
was made live at The Stone in New York City on September 12, 2009.
This concert brings together Furuhashi’s band in a set of three originals and a
group free-jazz closer. The opening number, “Magenta,” incorporates brilliant hard
bop blowing and features a terrific solo by pianist Trevor Lagrange. The band is
truly of one mind as they negotiate the harmonic changes with deft, but light,
brilliance. Furuhashi is a solidly grounded and well-schooled artist whose use of
phrase and line places him solidly within the mainstream.
The entire mood changes with the next composition, “Nord.” This open-ended free-
rubato-timed piece features the leader on flute and saxophone. His playing is
subtle, and the band follows him closely. Their clever interplay is not stilted, but
the band reacts to more than participates with the leader.
A swing ballad, “Changing The Time Spiral,” features bassist Shanir Ezra
Blmenkranz. His playing is exquisite. His solo is firmly locked in the changes yet
he plays lines so pretty it’s hard to believe he’s following any muse but his own.
Lagrange’s light pointillistic harmonic fills color the edges of Blmenkranz’s solo
perfectly. Their interplay is of special note to all would be jazz rhythm section
performers as a prime example of resplendent cooperation. Furuhashi’s melancholy
tenor playing sets the right mood, and the entire ensemble responds.
The disc closes with material that would not be out of place on an early John
Klemmer avant-garde inspired album. Furuhashi uses extended extramusical
saxophone techniques, the band plays with a fervor inspired by fire, and while the
result is not always concentrated and focused during the entire 15 minutes, it is
interesting to listen to them negotiate the way.
The problem with this disc is the recording quality. Without the use of
microphones placed on individual instruments the sound is cavernous and the
clarity and overall musical effect is severely compromised.
Tracks: Magenta, Nord, Changing Time Spiral and The Source
Reviewed by: Thomas R. Erdmann
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