Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ben Geyer: The Acadian Orogeny
Ben Geyer: The Acadian Orogeny
By"Reminiscing" is an original Geyer composition that demonstrates his ability to make a musical statement through subtlety and without overplaying, always in service of the music and the message. Dominguez and Darden are steadfastly supportive of Geyer's musical lines. At times the music suggests the musical values of a classical impressionist composition. Geyer's touch and tone evoke a sensitive and agile approach to his solo. The form has a nice flow and there are moments of transitions and the trio's ability to keep the music flowing with the same color and energy offers much to admire.
Geyer's original "High Tide" has the qualities and feel of a sophisticated late Blue Note-era tune, but his choice of harmony and tension and release brings the composition into today's modern jazz language. Dominguez's bass solo is relaxed and keeps the theme of less is more. Geyer's keyboard voicings, fluidity of his improvisations and the meticulousness of his interaction with bassist Dominguez and drummer Darden is buoyant and full of jazz colored vocabulary.
John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" is given the same impressionist subtlety avoidance of overplaying by the trio. The melody is given a nice arrangement and taken at a relaxed medium tempo. Geyer keeps the perpetual-motion clear as his figures dance and indeed suggest the underlying harmonies. Even when playing a selection from the jazz cannon like "Giant Steps" the trio maintains a transparency of sound with each instrument ringing out clearly and reacting to each other's musical ideas and colors.
Geyer has created a musical statement of depth and perpetuity with The Acadian Orogeny. The beauty of nature is reflected in each tune, with stunning results. The collaborative contributions and superlative playing by Dominguez and Darden adds to the experience.
Track Listing
Reminiscing; High Tide; Giant Steps; Movable Cogs; The Acadian Orogeny; Five-Tone Blues.
Personnel
Ben Geyer
pianoBen Geyer: piano; Peter Dominguez: bass; Zaire Darden: drums.
Album information
Title: The Acadian Orogeny | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Self Produced
< Previous
My Favorite Things(1960-1969)
Comments
Tags
Ben Geyer
CD/LP/Track Review
Geannine Reid
The Acadian Orogeny
Self Produced
Peter Dominguez
Zaire Darden