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Hristo Vitchev Quintet: The Perperikon Suite
ByVitchev's quintet of guitar, vibes, piano, bass and drums updates that same formula employed so successfully by the late George Shearing. The absence of brass and reeds lends a percussive, note-centered tone to the music produced. There is plenty of space between the instruments, their individual roles well-defined by the smart writing and arranging of Vitchev.
What The Perperikon Suite's music immediately captures is time becoming tactile. Vitchev's circuitous melodies are propelled by the sure hand of drummer Joe DeRose, who never allows any spreading of the beat. Pianist Weber Iago's playing is so empathic that he and Vitchev can easily finish the other's musical thoughts. Add in the percussive, temporal presence of Christian Tamburr's vibes, and the overall Shearing parallel is fully realized and transcended.
Many time motifs are used throughout this suite. Tick-tock ascending and descending figures pass as a thread through cloth, to hold this musical garmenta coat of many colorstogether. Vitchev achieves this effect with no apparent effort or change in guitar tone or approach. Merely by affecting the time signatures, Vitchev makes his magic. The Perperikon Suite is soft-spoken and brainy music that exists out of the ordinary.
Track Listing
The Stone Passage; The Palace; The Great Hall; The Shrine of Dionysus; The Acropolis; The Northern City; The Southern City.
Personnel
Hristo Vitchev
guitarHristo Vitchev: guitar; Weber Iago: piano; Christian Tamburr: vibes; Dan Robbins: bass; Joe DeRose: drums.
Album information
Title: The Perperikon Suite | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: First Orbit Sounds
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