Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ken Filiano: Subvenire

Ken Filiano: Subvenire

By Mark Corroto
January 1, 2003
View read count

Once thought to be only an acquired taste, solo bass recordings have become acknowledged phyla of creative jazz. From the straight-ahead Life Cycle by Dave Holland to outward sessions by Tatsu Aoki Basser Live, Paul Rogers Listen, and William Parker’s Lifting The Sanctions, modern bassists are continually developing their instrument beyond its historic timekeeping function.

Before moving to New York, bassist Ken Filiano was a mainstay of the West Coast jazz scene, recording with the various ensembles organized by Vinny Golia. He can also be heard on sessions by Rob Blakeslee, The Aardvark Orchestra, Paul Smoker, Dom Minasi, and longtime collaborator Steve Adams of ROVA saxophone quartet. This session is Filiano’s first solo outing and he delivers a coherent multifaceted approach to music making. He balances the accessible with just enough exploration. Mixing emotions from the heavyhearted to the blithe and powers waves of energy against toe tapping harmony.

Filiano opens the session with the lament bowed “Water Down Stone,” then shifts to tapping pulses on “Breathingdreaming” turning in horn sounding notes. He pulls some groove-related music through “Relay” and applies his bow to the wood on “Crucible/Woman” before getting into Bobby Bradford’s melody “Woman” with delicate ringing of hand bells.

Two tracks, “Lucerne” and “Non Sequitur” make use of overdubbed bass passages to great effect. Like Jaco Pastorious did once with his extroverted electric bass, Filiano accomplishes in a more intimate acoustic setting.

This is a special recording.

Track Listing

Water Down Stone; Breathingdreaming; Relay; Lucerne; Non Sequitur; Tangram; Without Words; Crucible/Woman; Dancing Shadows.

Personnel

Ken Filiano

bass

Ken Filiano

Album information

Title: Subvenire | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Nine Winds Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

DIP
< Previous

Black Cherry Acid Lab
Next >

Ken Filiano Concerts

Oct 23 Thu

Marina Tsvetaeva Poetry In Jazz

Sheepshead Bay Public Library
Brooklyn, NY

Support All About Jazz

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.