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Kris Davis: The Slightest Shift
The Slightest Shift is also a reminder that improvisation which pushes at the boundaries of form and tonality needs not have a furious and aggressive edge. Davis' compositions and her group's improvisation—it's often hard to distinguish here—are sometimes heated but often contemplative and deliberate. And as animated as the music gets, as on "Once, there remains a quality of peacefulness, rather than confrontation.
The opening "Bloodwine is the first of several standout tracks. Its halting beginning gives way to a slow, swaying two-chord progression with a wide-ranging Malaby solo and Davis building increasingly tempestuous and dark chords beneath him. "Morning Stretches is gentle and spare with, as the title suggests, a preparatory feel. It segues into the album's compositional highlight, the gorgeous "Jack's Song. Similarly, "Twice Escaped begins sparely, becomes increasingly layered and arrives at a solo piano coda that segues directly into the rhythmically complex and kinetic title track.
Track Listing
Bloodwine; And Then I Said...; Once; 35
Personnel
Kris Davis
pianoKris Davis: piano; Tony Malaby: tenor saxophone; Eivind Opsvik: bass; Jeff Davis: drums.
Album information
Title: The Slightest Shift | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Fresh Sound New Talent
Tags
Kris Davis
CD/LP/Track Review
Brian P. Lonergan
Fresh Sound New Talent
United States
New York
New York City
The Slightest Shift
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