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East West Quintet: Vast
ByFeaturing deep grooves, climactic arrangements, crunching guitar chords and pulsating beats (among other attributes), this new program yields many benefits such as memorably melodic themes. On "Vast Pt. 2," the soloists bestow a blitzing aerial bombardment, topped off by Dylan Heaney's torrid sax solo and pianist Mike Cassedy's prominent lower register block chords. In various movements, the rhythm section's pummeling back beats serve as a colossal plane for the front line, offset by temperate jazz-rock motifs, and hued with Simon Kafka's breezy jazz voicings.
The unit renders a string of polytonal contrasts amid Cassedy's edgy electric piano voicings and atop up-tempo slash and burn workouts. However, these compositions sustain interest, and it's not all about technical gymnastics. These young instrumentalists convey savvy beyond their years, a factor that underscores this entire program. Moreover, they lower the pitch during the extended piece and finale, "Brooklyn," via moody passages and brief sojourns into the free zone.
Where others of this ilk might simply grandstand via excessive riffing and forgettable pieces, this lot merges disparate structural and improvisational elements into an all-embracing methodology. Vast is an unanticipated musical treat for 2009.
Track Listing
The Triumph; Catalyst; Vast - Pt. 1; Vast - Pt. 2; Over the Falls; Comet; Daffodil 11; View from Above; Gangster Rap; Brooklyn.
Personnel
East West Quintet
band / ensemble / orchestraDylan Heaney: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute; Simon Kafka: guitar; Mike Cassedy: piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer; Benjamin Campbell: acoustic bass, electric bass; Jordan Perlson: drums, percussion; Phil Rodriguez: trumpet (1, 2).
Album information
Title: Vast | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Native Language
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About East West Quintet
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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