Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Nick Fraser Quartet: Starer

14

Nick Fraser Quartet: Starer

By

Sign in to view read count
Nick Fraser Quartet: Starer
Canadian drummer Nick Fraser follows up his trio CD Too Many Continents (Clean Feed, 2015) featuring pianist Kris Davis and saxophonist Tony Malaby with this quartet date also featuring Malaby, consummated by cellist Andrew Downing and bassist Rob Clutton. Hence, the leader imparts an atypical vista, contoured by his scrappy or terse drumming, where structural song-forms seamlessly intertwine with freedom of expression. It's like a loosely wrapped package framed on solid foundations that morph into liquefied digressions and gradually ascending theme building episodes.

Fraser's holistic approach to the kit is evident throughout, amid his punctual cymbal swashes, regimented patterns and sweeping fills while frequently using a metronome-like mindset via stilted beats and plush tonal shadings. On the stark ballad "Sketch #9," Clutton and Downing harmonize with Malaby but also pepper and prod him into executing dense fabrics of sound. Yet several works are designed with medium-tempo experimental processes as the band navigates through nooks, crannies and detours. However, the longest running piece (10:29) "Sketch #20/22 commences with Malaby's extended notes atop a Chamber-like narrative spiced with a free-form improvisational domain that opens up during the bridge. Moreover, Fraser's snappy rim shots and an off-kilter Latin groove ups the ante in parallel with Downing who fervently plucks his strings. Here, Malaby sneaks in underneath for a pleasantly bizarre opus that evolves into scorching progressions.

From an avant-garde outlook, Fraser incorporates a curiously interesting set of checks and balances into the big picture with a refreshing musical vernacular, abetted by like-minded professionals who deliver the goods in exemplary fashion.

Track Listing

Minimalism/416-538-7149; Sketch #26; Starer; Sketch 329; Jupiter (Sketch # 15); Sketch #20/22; Sketch #21.

Personnel

Nick Fraser: drums, composition;Tony Malaby: saxophones; Andrew Downing: cello; Rob Clutton: double bass.

Album information

Title: Starer | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags

Concerts

May 10 Fri

For the Love of 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 create 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.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve 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

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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