Musicians: Josh Irving (alto and soprano saxophones), George Dulin (piano), Fredi Meli (bass), Isaiah Ceccarrelli (drums)
Review: In this self-produced first recording, the Josh Irving Quartet performs a series of pieces that should help in their process of shopping their music to record labels. The Quartet deserves recognition and greater access to the jazz community.
The music is thoughtful, beautiful, sophisticated, and well-constructed. Their style may be thought of as a combination of straight-ahead with a dollop of free jazz. It works because they challenge the listener at points, but not at the expense of making enjoyable to listen. This is not wallpaper background music and it is not an academic exercise. The Josh Irving Quarter demand that you listen closely.
You can hear the strands of modern jazz history weaved in their music. ‘Durruti’ and ‘Misteriovum’ are complicated pieces of Monk-type music that creates an intricate web of intrigue that is both moody and introspective, but also has that sense of child-like whimsy. ‘Arise’ sounds like a latter-day Coltrane quartet on the verge of slipping into free jazz and the civil rights outrage.
Josh Irving and his band know their history. And they can play. They play intelligently as a band and as composers they are innovative re-interpreting known terrain. This Quartet deserves further listening.
Tracks: Up and Down, Song for the Sons, Arise, Durruti, Swept Away, Whatfore Art Thou?, Misteriovum, Outside to Play
JazzReview.com
