Eric Bell: Vulnerability

Eric Bell's debut album Vulnerability is an exploration of artistry, creativity and respect for jazz traditions. Accompanied by his regular partners bassist Cole Sainburg and drummer Nico Vasquez along with special guests guitarist Dean Anbar and tenor saxophonist Eric Hirschhorn, Bell delivers a compelling performance, balancing the weight of jazz history with an innovative spirit. The carefully curated eight-track outing offers a mix of jazz, popular standards and original compositions.

The session opens with the appropriately titled "Start," which establishes a moody tone of both introspection and bold expression. Over Bell's ostinato on piano and Hammond organ, Sainburg and Vazques establish a dynamic interplay with Anbar's eventual participation, lending the music a fluid sense of momentum. "The Way You Look Tonight" was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film "Swing Time." Here, Bell arranges the tune as a tribute to South African flugelhornist Hugh Masekela. With rhythmic and nuanced drumming from Vasquez, Bell builds a romantic exploration of the number through his intricate phrases filled with precision and playful articulation.

Wayne Shorter's composition "Witch Hunt" is delivered with an outstanding interactive arrangement by Bell. Throughout the number, the trio toggles between forms and tempos based on the opening line, daring each player to 'follow the bouncing ball.' It is a highlight, to be sure. Bell and Sainburg travelled to Japan on vacation some time ago, from which Bell wrote "Fighting The Sun." The repetitive drum beat is meant to signify the unrelenting Japanese sun. At the same time, the multi-layered contemplative soundscape, as developed by Bell and Anbar, immerses the listener in a lush cinematic atmosphere.

The title track, "Vulnerability," is a harmonically rich ballad that lives up to its name. Bell's touch on the keys is delicate yet expansive. Hirschhorn's tenor solos are a blend of fluid lines and emotional depth. The session closes with another Bell original, "I Didn't Need You Anyways." Opening with a New Orleans parade beat, the number pivots to capture the trio's ability to combine tradition and innovation. In addition to Bell's intricate phrasing, Sainburg's bass lines are supportive and inventive, with Vasquez's driving rhythms shaping the narrative.