Search - Elements :: Far East, Vol. 2

Complete the set and get Volume II for more excellence

NDBx | New York, NY United States | 02/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording continues to capture "Elements" at their best. The personnel from the last recording is intact. David Mann on Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Gil Goldstein on keyboards, Danny Gottlieb on Drums and Percussion and Mark Egan on bass.



As I said in the previous review of Volume 1. This band should always be recorded live to capture is energy and showcase it's considerable talent.



"Illuminations" starts out this recording. A beautiful ballad which was ethereal on the studio ballad, is both that and then intensely beautiful for the soloing. Two key ingredients is David Mann's soprano sax solo which is intense, beautiful and inventive. Gil Golstein on electric piano playing with a rich textural approach. The piece picks up piece and Gil takes an elaborate solo with Danny Gottlieb propel in him as the piece goes mid-tempo.



"Puerto Sagua" is interesting piece that begins by floating in in a loose abstract way before coalescing into a vehicle for Mark Egan's melodic bass line. The group then comes in full force to feature David Mann's soprano, The highlight of this piece is a very inventive African influences solo by Gil Golstein on keyboards which conjures the kalimba while Danny plays counterpoint to him and then tempo suddenly shifts upward.



"Gil Prelude" features Gil Golstein's piano. It starts very introspectively and then shifts into a very unique passage with that overlapping technique but with an odd accent. It then shifts to "Three Way" mirror which is a very loose modern piece featuring a modern jazz style setting where David Mann shifts tenor saxophone exhibiting a BIG bodied tone and a real feel for this type of material. Mann plays with skill and never looses an essential emotiveness. Gil Goldstein then takes another impressive piano solo, always on the money, playing skillfully with thoughtfulness and emotion. He is definitely a talent that many more people should be aware of.



"Go Ahead Stan" is a high energy piece that was originally named for the group's often times, guitarist Stan Samole but whose space is occupied by David Mann's tenor. The piece is one of my favorite of the repertoire and features some foot-stomping drumming by Danny Gottlieb Gil Golstein is outstanding on this one. Again, he generates energy, intensity while not going off on a tangent. Danny Gottlieb is right their with him driving things along. Danny's got an incredible foot-pedal technique. Beautiful sense of time. The piece then turns into a blues saxophone vehicle to let David Mann blow. Again, Danny lays down the beat to push him along.



"Depraw" is another piece that is loose with a modern jazz feel featuring Gil Goldstein whose at home at almost anything he choosed to play. He's a very gifted soloist and this piece shows it. This piece shifts moods a few time getting way out there to an abstract mode, but never runs away with itself. It allows the group to play with interesting voicing and textures before turning Danny Gottlieb loose for an outstinding burst of controlled virtuosity. He's a very musical drummer, he listens well and crafts his solo, he just doesn't go off and some drummers do.



An outstanding recording by an underrated group.

"