Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Xavi Reija: The Sound Of The Earth

6

Xavi Reija: The Sound Of The Earth

By

Sign in to view read count
Xavi Reija: The Sound Of The Earth
After the acoustic trio interlude of Reflections (Self Produced, 2017) Spanish drummer/composer/bandleader Xavier Reija returns to electric rock/jazz fusion territory, once again in the company of the extraordinary Barcelona-based, Serbian-born guitarist Dusan Jevtovic—his playing partner on several other MoonJune albums, most notably Resolution (MoonJune Records, 2016). The group is filled out by legendary American bassist/Chapman Stick player Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson) and German touch guitarist Markus Reuter (a band mate of Levin's in Stick Men, as well as a veteran of several MoonJune sessions). The set list includes compositions by Reija and Jevtovic, along with several collective tracks.

Reija's "Deep Ocean" makes a bold opening statement, its heavy riff reinforced by cymbal accents. After an exploratory series of solos, there is a wonderful dramatic pause before the theme returns—an early demonstration of the dynamic contrast that characterizes the session. The first of the collective "The Sound Of The Earth" tracks dials the intensity back with a quiet, atmospheric opening. Levin's bass line sets up the drum entry: before long the rubato feel has been replaced by a gentle groove, with Jevtovic's strangled guitar riding on top as the band builds to a climax—with lovely soundscaping for a brief tag. Jevtovic's "From Darkness" features call and response between the guitars over a thumping rhythm.

"The Sound Of The Earth II" begins with bass and drums (with brushes), a rhythmic bedrock for the overlapping guitar parts that follow. Reija's "Lovely Place" opens with Jevtovic's guitar, a contemplative sound joined by Reuter's overdriven solo line. Before long the piece develops into one huge buildup, with the guitar finally ending solo. "The Sound Of The Earth IV" is the longest of the collective improvisations, an exploratory trip that could have occupied an entire side on an LP. There is space for soundscapes, an expressive Levin bass solo, and lots of rubato playing by everyone. Which still leaves room for a big drum-driven climax.

The Sound Of The Earth is like a musical buffet, with something for everyone who has a taste for genre-crossing electric music. The Reija/Jevtovic pairing has a history to draw from, as does the Levin/Reuter axis—and the combination uncovers a real chemistry. Yet another magical MoonJune session.

Track Listing

Deep Ocean; The Sound Of The Earth I; From Darkness; The Sound Of The Earth II; Serenity; The Sound Of The Earth III; Lovely Place; The Sound Of The Earth IV; Take A Walk.

Personnel

Xavi Reija: drums; Tony Levin: bass guitar, upright bass, stick; Markus Reuter: touch guitar; Dusan Jevtovic: guitar.

Album information

Title: The Sound Of The Earth | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: MoonJune Records

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.