Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Michael Gregory Jackson Clarity Quartet: WHENUFINDITUWILLKNOW

5

Michael Gregory Jackson Clarity Quartet: WHENUFINDITUWILLKNOW

By

Sign in to view read count
Michael Gregory Jackson Clarity Quartet: WHENUFINDITUWILLKNOW
A guitarist with a prodigious recorded legacy and an omnivorous stylistic range, Michael Gregory Jackson's return to his avant-jazz roots during the past couple of decades has been a welcome, if under-recognized, development. While he cut his teeth in the '70s loft scene in the company of luminaries such as Wadada Leo Smith, Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill, Pheeroan AkLaff, and Fred Hopkins, Jackson was never content to remain locked into a particular genre, and his subsequent trajectory included a number of recordings steeped in R&B and pop. Only in the 2000's did he once again focus in earnest on the music that first put him on the map, most notably re-joining with Smith on a couple of the trumpeter's renowned albums with Cuneiform Records, Spiritual Dimensions (2009) and Heart's Reflections (2011). But he has also revitalized his role as a leader, using his own Golden Records label to release offerings such as his 2017 trio record with bassist Keith Witty and drummer Kenwood Dennard, Spirit Signal Strata.

For his latest release, Jackson is partnered with three Danish musicians he has gotten to know rather well of late, with bassist Niels Praestholm, saxophonist Simon Cato Spang-Hanssen and drummer Matias Wolf Andreasen having first recorded with him as the Clarity Quartet on 2015's After Before (Golden). The band's chemistry is immediately apparent, whether it's Praestholm and Wolf Andreasen's ability to forge a tasty groove or Spang-Hanssen's uncanny conversational abilities alongside Jackson. The music is at its best when the four really turn it loose, as on the infectious third cut, "Spin," where a bouncy rhythm provides an opportunity for Jackson to roll out some feisty licks while Spang-Hanssen stays right with him, the two exchanging interlocking lines with abandon as Praestholm and Wolf Andreasen raise the temperature ever-so-gradually, culminating in a fierce finish. "Souvenirs" is no less compelling, with Jackson's jagged shards driving the quartet into its most impassioned and unrestrained playing on the record.

True to Jackson's expansive tendencies, the album's nine tracks cover a lot of ground, from the gentle stroll of "Theme-X," the hard-edged freedom of "Clarity 6," or the lilting, samba-esque "Ay Yay," which includes Jackson's affecting wordless vocals. Although the album loses some cohesion as a result of its breadth, what ultimately holds it all together is Jackson's undeniable prowess. His deep melodic sensibility and razor-sharp precision are constants, so that even on listener-friendly cuts like the updated blues of "Blue Blue" or the danceable "Ay Yay," Jackson's uncompromising musical integrity shines convincingly. And the gorgeous, pensive "Meditation in E" is perfect in closing out the record: a celebration of Jackson's continuing vitality, and a hopeful sign of much more to come.

Track Listing

Theme-X (Dedicated to Geri Allen), Clarity 6 (Dedicated to Fred Hopkins, Spin (Dedicated to Baikida Carroll), Blue Blue (Dedicated to Bruce Kevin Jackson), Clarity 3, Ah Yay, Collectors of Social Dismay, Souvenirs (Dedicated to Jessica Hagedorn), Meditation in E (Dedicated to Karen).

Personnel

Michael Gregory Jackson: composer, producer, electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, harmonica, shakers, tambourine and cowbell, Niels Praestholm: bass, Simon Spang-Hanssen: alto and soprano saxophones, Matias Wolf Andreason: drums.

Album information

Title: WHENUFINDITUWILLKNOW | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Golden 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

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.