Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Wayne Horvitz: The Snowghost Sessions

82

Wayne Horvitz: The Snowghost Sessions

By

Sign in to view read count
Wayne Horvitz: The Snowghost Sessions
This trio set is one of two concurrent releases by venerable composer/keyboardist Wayne Horvitz. On Those Who Remain (National Sawdust, 2018) he is supported by an orchestra and guitarist Bill Frisell, to complement his other classical-focused outings spanning the past two decades. As The Snowghost Sessions finds Horvitz aligning with longtime cohorts, bassist Geoff Harper and drummer Eric Eagle who recorded this outing in the enviable settings of an audiophile-grade studio in scenic Whitefish, Montana.

Horvitz has been at the forefront of invention as an active participant in New York City's downtown scene, along with his bands, Zony Mash, Pigpen; along with numerous solo albums and ad hoc projects. Here, the relaxed vibe transfers to disc rather poignantly, especially when he uses various electronics effects to offset the core piano trio developments.

At times the keyboardist implements dark and undulating treatments similar to vintage Brian Eno's interminable void soundscapes, yet some works are blotted with menacing backdrops and bizarre synth patterns. Most of these tracks are designed with memorable licks and hummable melody lines amid the leader's soulful twirls and breezy lyricism. No doubt, this is a jazz piano trio that thinks out-of-the-box, to complement the conventional inner-workings, gently flowing narratives, eerie fadeouts and concisely stated passages.

On "Trish," Horvitz weaves a deeply personal ballad with a harmonically attractive motif atop the rhythm section's delicate support. The following piece, "IMB," features his oddball effects, contrasted by a swift bop pulse with angular and serrated synth soloing topped off by a deconstruction effort that dissipates into nothingness.

The diverse program continues on "Flies on Friday," where Horvitz launches a haunting piano etude with reverberating effects snuggled into an ethereal theme that cyclically drifts into the night sky. However, the tide turns during "55 6 (21) Variations," which is a bluesy piano and organ piece, quietly driven home by bassist Geoff Harper's heartfelt solo.

Horvitz once again goes against the grain by vividly morphing familiar musical turf via persuasive compositions, abetted by cunning deviations and abstract viewpoints that yield additional enchantments on subsequent listens.

Track Listing

The Pauls; No Blood Relations #1; Trish; IMB; Apart From You #1; Northampton; For James Tenney; No Blood Relations #2; Flies on Friday; The Trees; Yukio and Nao’s Duet; 55 6 (21) Variations; 55 6 (7) Variations; Apart From You #2; American Bandstand (bonus track, not on CD).

Personnel

Wayne Horvitz
keyboards

Wayne Horvitz: piano, amplified piano, live processing, Wurlitzer electric piano, Hammond B-3, Nord Lead, TX-7, and Mellotron; Geoff Harper: contrabass; Eric Eagle: drums and percussion.

Album information

Title: The Snowghost Sessions | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Songlines Recordings

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

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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