By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Live at the COTA Jazz Festival
Beat
always has been one of jazz’s key elements. Tempo and “style” can change — it
can be balladic, grooving, flag-waving, funk, rock, bop or whatever — but beat
usually is consistent. That’s what makes it “danceable.”
Ah,
but that has changed, as some jazz has moved into the modern age. Some artists
have moved to what is referred to as a “rubato” style of playing: A consistent
beat isn’t used. This is left up to the predominant soloing instrument; the
other artists in the group follow this lead’s beat variations.
Pianist
Hal Galper is a proponent of this style; the Youngbloods who support him here
are his disciples. Alto saxophonist Nathan Bellott, bassist Dean Torrey and
drummer David Frazier are honor graduates of Galper’s Purchase Conservatory;
this album was recorded at last year’s COTA (Council On the Aging) Jazz
Festival, held to honor great alto sax artist Phil Woods.
The
rubato style also can be open-ended, which is to say, it doesn’t have a set
number of bars or choruses. As a result, each tune generally is longer than the
usual jazz composition, and that’s the case here. The four charts
(respectively) run more than 17, 11, 14 and 14 minutes. Galper composed of
them; Gordon Jenkins’ “Goodbye” is the exception.
This
release doesn't “swing” in the usual sense, but it’s definitely
musical, and can be classified as modern jazz. Each artist’s skill is evident
during solo sections, and unison passages and supporting contributions are
outstanding. It’s beautiful “listening” music, clearly meant for concert hall
presentation.
Fans
of this sub-genre will be thrilled by this album. If it’s new to you, give it a
try. I suspect you’ll be quite impressed.
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