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Athanasopoulos-Pin Jazz Quartet: Modern Money Mechanics
ByHighly accomplished artists who met years ago at a music conservatory in Holland, Pin and Athanasopoulos formed the quartet with drummer LAR Legido and bassist/Free Code founder Paco Charlin. Their influences are exhibited from the onset of "Ken Saro Wiwa," an exhilarating track dedicated to the slain Nigerian environmental activist. It's a nice segue to the Afro-centric beat of "Don't Drink the Blackwater," a tongue-in-cheek reference to the corporate and private funding of weapons. Equally persuasive compositions include the effervescent "Fragment," dedicated to the great Charlie Parker and Pin's "She Wakes Up and Smiles," as his masterful chords work harmoniously with Athanasopoulos' Dexter Gordon-like tonality.
The three abstract piecesthe title track, "Unlike A Rolling Stone" and "Banker's Suite (Burned Nicely...)" are fascinating, exploratory gems which are far too brief; whereas Pin's "Waltz For Melina" gives everyone ample room to bask in its warm glow. Another highlight is "Bagheera's Dilemma" which morphs between a hip Middle Eastern tempo and cool swing. Like a spark to gasoline, "Gordon's Bleu" is combustible; the band swings with much energy as if Dexter Gordon himself was in the studio. This amalgam of styles might dissuade some, but the crux of the matter is heard in the group's flawless performances and compositional savvy.
Track Listing
Ken Saro Wiwa; Don't Drink the Blackwater; Fragment; Waltz For Melina; Unlike A Rolling Stone; Dogsy; She Wakes Up and Smiles; Modern Money Mechanics; Swing Flu; Bagheera's Dilemma; Banker's Suite (Burned Nicely..); Gordon's Bleu.
Personnel
Marcos Pin: guitar; Thanos Athanasopoulos: saxopones; Paco Charlin: bass; LAR Legido: drums.
Album information
Title: Modern Money Mechanics | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Free Code Jazz Records
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