Joe Gilman: Relativity

M.C. Escher captured the imagination of the world with his perspective-altering artwork. Escher's mind's eye and eye's mind challenged people to see things differently, and pianist Joe Gilman has found inspiration in his brilliant work. Gilman, who previously delved into the music-inspired-by-art realm on Americanvas (Capri, 2010), uses Escher's creations as inspirational seeds and guiding forces for this music. He takes a good, hard look at eleven of Escher's pieces, with music written to capture what he saw.

Gilman's constructs reflect Escher's unique outlook on life, but they're not all about fun house mirrors, oddities and upside down observances. Gilman is just as likely to throw in a burner ("Smaller And Smaller") or a calm wintery suggestion ("Snow") as he is to include a number built on different forms of evolutionary alteration or sleight of hand ("Three Worlds"). Interweaving lines that are oppositional, yet complementary come into play on occasion ("Covered Alley"), but these musicians also know how to band together and move in lockstep fashion ("Three Spheres").

The quintet featured on this date acts a single, well-oiled unit, willing to do what's necessary for the music: capable of touching down in Brazil without fully committing to its climate ("Day And Night"), letting things get fun, funky and fusion-eque ("Encounter"), and driving with the pedal to the metal and quickly shifting gears to open up some space ("Ascending And Descending"). Trumpeter Nick Frenay blends and balances well with saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown when his flugelhorn is in hand, but shines even brighter with his muted trumpet ("Encounter"). Drummer Corey Fonville controls the growth and development of "Waterfall," building new scaffolding behind each performer, while bassist Zachary Brown acts as stabilizing force or counterweight when required by the music.

Gilman's music, like Escher's art, is all about the eye of the beholder. The pianist does a fine job here, bringing Escher's work into the realm of the audible while also creating music that can stand on its own.