Alex Harding & Blutopia: The Calling

Contemporary Jazz / Modal Jazz
premiera polska: 2007-04-06
opakowanie: Jewelcaseowe etui
opis:
allaboutjazz.com
Alex Harding (Detroit) and Lucian Ban (Romania) have developed a fruitful partnership over the last few years. Harding's bluesy, church-steeped baritone sax is the logical heir to Hamiet Bluiett's, while Ban's tasteful, reflective piano playing combines the elegance and technical precision of the European classical tradition with wide-ranging musical interests and a passion for improvisation.
Backed by bassist Brad Jones and drummer Nasheet Waits, Harding is the nominal leader on The Calling, and while half the writing credit is Ban's, the band's sound benefits from Harding's bass clarinet on the pianist's "Estonia and his own arrangement of the traditional "Shades of Ellegua. On "Cultural Warrior, Harding's baritone is a caress, while on "Southern Dawn, a Ban composition that gets to these players' roots, Harding builds his dirtiest, most impressive solo. "Spirit Take My Hand leaves too early, fading out on a beat that Waits lays down at the finish.
By JEFF STOCKTON

JazzTimes
Alex Harding’s The Calling reminds me of a time not so long ago when jazz maintained fairly consistent values-before “straightahead” and “free” became irreconcilably separate, when jazz musicians weren’t afraid of being imperfect and style had yet to win out over feeling. The brainy yet gut-busting baritone saxophonist/bass clarinetist fronts a quintet of first-class improvisers (Lucian Ban, piano; Brad Jones, bass; Nasheet Waits, drums; Andrew Daniels, percussion) in a set long on both musical sophistication and emotional depth. The original compositions swing very hard; a streak of gospel runs through most, and an unalloyed blues feel is ever – present.

Like Harding, Ban is a fine and tasteful changes player who’s just as capable of taking it “out.” He gives the ensemble the right amount of harmonic flexibility and percussive energy. Jones and Waits are a burning team. Waits, in particular, is enormously exciting, excelling at changes of mood and velocity. Harding combines a limber technique and vivid imagination with the ability and inclination to explore the most expressive aspects of the music. Few saxophonists these days are half as interesting. Still fewer are as intense. Good album. Very good.
by Chris Kelsey

muzycy:
Alex Harding - baritone sax, bass clarinet
Lucian Ban - piano
Brad Jones - double bass
Nasheet Waits - drums
Andrew Daniels - percussion

utwory:
1. The Calling
2. Cultural Warrior
3. Quirky
4. Spirit Take My Hand
5. Estonia
6. Sketch
7. Southern Dawn
8. Blast
9. Shades of Ellegua

more info: www.jazzaway.com