Search - Drew Gress :: Irrational Numbers

Deep sea beauty

hanyi ishtouk | Budapest, Hungary | 09/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On many a count a likely candidate to be ranked among the best modern jazz albums for the year 2008, despite the fact it was recorded in August 2006. Highly original, open-ended compositions and structure, attractive unison lines, inspired yet focused spontaneity, overwhelming dynamism, quicksilver change of emphasis, finely honed rapport, moodwise: stark urban existentialism vs. magnificent lyricism, divested of shallow sentimentalism, characterize this masterpiece.

As others have rightly observed already, the longest tracks 2, 5, 9 form the backbone, each of which has more to offer even on its own than numerous other recordings in their entirety are capable of. This is partly due to the clever arrangement that allows ample space for every instrument to shine and to surf the respective, at times diverging, currents only to converge on empowering ensemble playing. Songs like the waltz 'fauxjobim' and the timelessly hymnlike 'by far' or 'true south', amidst further delicacies, make up the ribs of this sonic mermaid.

At the heart of the present adventurous but disciplined quintet seethes a piano trio featuring bassist-composer Drew Gress' nice and round sound pregnant with meaning, Craig Taborn's true talent and versatility (sidenote: a few dozens of more bars elaborating on his solo -- in a style reminescent of one of our favourite pianists, Englishman John Taylor -- on the aforementioned tr. 4 would have been perfect), and Tom Rainey's impressive drumming, which is an unexpected discovery for us. Prior wariness over alto saxist Tim Berne's deconstructionist slant, especially on free form improvisations and in comparison with his performance on the prequel ('7 black butterflies'), has proved to be unjustified, as he masterfully navigates the waves and eddies throughout the set -- so does his hornmate, trumpeter Ralph Alessi. To cut a long story short: if you're tired of worn-out ideas, popular melodies and rhythms, well-trodden musical paths, the panacea lies in 'irrational numbers'. running time: 63.48 min.

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7 Black Butterflies + Irrational Numbers = great 2-disc set

TSK | NY | 05/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"See the sharp Amazon reviews for Gress' previous disc with this group, 7 Black Butterflies, all of which apply here as well. Same lineup, same great production by David Torn, same moody, intellectual without being too eggheady Gress writing. Someone compared Gress to Mingus in a Butterflies review, and on the face of it that may seem quite a stretch, but the more I listen to these two records, the more persuasive it becomes. And as the All Music Guide reviewer says about Numbers on iTunes, "instruments may collide harshly, but they never fail to kiss and make up." It's more like they're having great sex. This is one of the best bands around. You'd expect nothing less from a quintet that includes Berne, Taborn and Rainey, who slay as a trio on Berne's Shell Game (can't recommend this enough), but the lesser-known Ralph Alessi's trumpet is equally fine."