Search - Chris Cheek :: Guilty,Live at the Jamboree

Subtle and Artistic

Ann Moynihan | Tucson, AZ USA | 11/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chris Cheek's "Guilty" has gradually become one of my most cherished albums. As a saxophonist and pupil of jazz music I appreciate honesty and integrity in music, two ideals which this work of art delivers. Cheek's improvisations and interpretations of melodies throughout this live (at the Village Vanguard) peformance are subtle and unflinchingly focused & intense. Ethan Iverson of the Bad Plus offers angular and impressionistic accompaniment that fits perfectly with the groups asthetic. Jorge Rossy (drums) and Ben Street (bass) offer a textural palette that can vary from the starkest musical landscapes to the rock-steadiest of swing feels (especially on Conception). Anyone who is a fan of Mark Turner and Kurt Rosenwinkel's music will surely appreciate the sustained intensity, palpable honesty, and telepathy of Cheek's group. I don't usually write reviews because I beleive good music speaks for itself, however as I see no one has reviewed this killer album yet, I feel that others deserve to know what a triumph it is.



-Mike M."