The first half of The Fisherman, by Austin, Texas-based guitarist Darin Layne, is steeped in laid-back folksy jazz-like articulations, awash with wistful lines and quaint melodies. Layne's rhythm section is firmly nestled in-the-pocket to complement his deft and angular phrasings. On "See Five, the guitarist executes dreamy lines and ascending choruses amid his artful use of volume control techniques. Echoes of vintage Pat Metheny come to mind here, but he goes for the slam dunk during the second part of this session, dissecting the blues, cranking his sound up and varying the overall pitch on the upbeat "K.B.
Layne's meticulously crafted progressions convey sensitivity to the inherent frameworks of his comps. But he soars into the red zone during "Whippit, as he employees a wah-wah pedal with fuzz-toned distortion. Elsewhere he solos atop buoyant funk grooves, letting it rip on "Break Me. Nonetheless, it's a nicely-balanced set from an artist who knows how and when to pick his spots. And it's easy to discern why his work has been featured on TV and in film. In sum, Layne shrewdly melds chops and poise with a sophisticated approach, all firmed-up by the rhythm section's compassionate support.
Track Listing
Spinning; Away; The Fisherman; Chayenne; Early Morning; See five; What Is There?; Big Fatty; K.B.; Mixbreathe; Whippit; Candy Girl; Break Me; West.
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.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.