Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The New Standard Quintet: The Many Faces

3

The New Standard Quintet: The Many Faces

By

Sign in to view read count
The New Standard Quintet: The Many Faces
There are certain features that are common among all types of jazz, not the least of which is creative spontaneity. The New Standard Quintet's The Many Faces demonstrates this unifying theme on the nine original that comprise the album.

Saxophonist Ken Partyka and guitarist Pat Fleming, who also composed the tunes, co-lead the quintet. The group consists of versatile veterans of the Chicago music scene whose immense individual talents are only enhanced by their group camaraderie, both of which make this genre-bending journey a delight.

The title track is a contemporary ballad, with Patryka's poetic saxophone weaving a complex melody over rock-solid support from the rhythm section. Patryka's tenor solo on the breezy bossa "A Voz Doce" channels an inner Stan Getz; the song also features Fleming's flamenco-flavored acoustic guitar and Tom Vaitsas' deceptively light electric keyboard, both of which disguise the complex improvisation within.

Vaitsas electrifies the atmosphere with his fusion styling on the soulful "Melbourne Method" and "Uncertainty Principle," while his dark blue sound on the modal "One Eyed Jacks" adds another dimension to Fleming's intensely funky guitar and Patryka's nocturnal tenor. Their alternating complex extemporizations on minor keys create a late-night, intimate atmosphere with all its romance, promises and disappointments.

In addition to providing intricate and impeccable support, bassist Curt Bley and drummer Rick Vitek get their turns in the spotlight; the funky, gritty Bley on "Mirror, Mirror," and the the propulsive Vitek on the whimsical "In the Kitchen," a bop-ish piece featuring a call-and-response pattern between each soloist and the rest of the band.

Although not a groundbreaker, this record of varied musical flavors and high quality musicianship is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally satisfying. Each spin of the disc should lead to a fresh layer of enjoyment.

Track Listing

The Melbourne Method; Mirror, Mirror; A Voz Doce; Uncertainty Principle; The Many Faces; Only More So...; One Eyed Jacks; In The Kitchen; No More Words (Goodnight).

Personnel

Pat Fleming: guitar; Ken Partyka: saxophone; Rick Vitek: drums; Tom Vaitsas: keyboards; Curt Bley: bass.

Album information

Title: The Many Faces | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags


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

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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