Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Thomas Linger: Out In It

41

Thomas Linger: Out In It

By

View read count
Thomas Linger: Out In It
Any pianist who can enlist the sort of blue-chip rhythm section which Thomas Linger has for a debut album must be not only talented but unselfish, which is precisely the case on Out In It; Linger is accompanied by a trio of seasoned New York-based jazz luminaries, guitarist Peter Bernstein, bassist Yashushi Nakamura and drummer Joe Farnsworth. Even though Linger is the nominal leader, he makes it clear from the outset that this is a quartet, one in which everyone is given leave to do what he does best to develop and strengthen the group dynamic.

That does not mean Linger’s voice is softened; he and Bernstein comprise the group’s melodic keystone, and Linger solos splendidly on every number, the first eight of which he also composed. In fact, he and Bernstein are two of a kind: earnestly contemporary but never heedless of the time-honored jazz tradition, blending those ingredients into a fresh and attractive medley. On a timeline, it would be difficult to articulate an era for either of them, as they use bop, swing and other influences to accomplish their musical purpose. Nakamura and Farnsworth are unfazed by any variations, as they have the deftness and chops to play well in any context. Linger’s opening theme, the ambling “Can’t Say It,” which brings to mind the Lovin’ Spoonful’s pop hit, “What a Day for a Daydream,” sets the tone, with sharp solos from Bernstein and Linger, and exemplary comping by Nakamura and Farnsworth. “Night Ride” is smooth and pleasant, as is “Mercurial Behemoth” (on which Nakamura adds his solo voice). The tempo slows on “Incantation,” then accelerates on “A Lovely Encounter” and “Out In It,” the catchy melody of which parallels a long-ago theme—possibly written by Horace Silver—whose name has been withdrawn from the memory bank.

The slow-moving and meditative “Linger’s Lament” is next, followed by the leader’s final composition, “Crystal Cave,” Billy Strayhorn’s plaintive “Lush Life” (recorded at a different time and place and performed by Linger alone) and Art Farmer’s neatly-grooved “Woofin’ and Tweetin’.” To say that Linger’s recording career has begun on the right foot would be an understatement. Out In It is an impressive debut, thanks in part to Linger’s special talents as a writer and player, and perhaps even more so to those of his supporting cast who help raise its profile beyond respectable to admirable

Track Listing

Can’t Say It; Night Ride; Mercurial Behemoth; Incantation; A Lovely Encounter; Out In It; Linger’s Lament; Crystal Cave; Lush Life; Woofin’ and Tweetin’.

Personnel

Album information

Title: Out In It | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

Tags

Comments


PREVIOUS / NEXT




Support All About 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 make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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

Tramonto
John Taylor
Ki
Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii
Duality Pt: 02
Dom Franks' Strayhorn
The Sound of Raspberry
Tatsuya Yoshida / Martín Escalante

Popular

Old Home/New Home
The Brian Martin Big Band
My Ideal
Sam Dillon
Ecliptic
Shifa شفاء - Rachel Musson, Pat Thomas, Mark Sanders
Lado B Brazilian Project 2
Catina DeLuna & Otmaro Ruíz

Get more of a good thing!

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

Install All About Jazz

iOS Instructions:

To install this app, follow these steps:

All About Jazz would like to send you notifications

Notifications include timely alerts to content of interest, such as articles, reviews, new features, and more. These can be configured in Settings.