Year: 2007
Record Label: Independant
Style: Straight-Ahead / Classic
Musicians: Aaron Koppel (guitar), Robert Tucker (drums), Graham Czach (bass), Matt Nelson (piano).
Review: Normally, a ten minute performance can drag on after about the sixth minute – not here. The Aaron Koppel Quartet takes us through eight self-penned performances that that may be here today but not gone tomorrow.
Formed in 2002 from the Chicago scene, the Aaron Koppel Quartet featuresleader Aaron Koppel on guitar, Matt Nelson on piano, Graham Czach on bass and Robert Tucker in drums.
The eight tracks as mentioned earlier are designed to be little suites. Each individual track can/could/does hold its own on the album titled The Wild Call of the Multi-Tasker and if one was given radio play on its own, you would not need to hear the rest of the tracks to fully understand or back that individual one up.
The piano playing of Matt Nelson is subtle yet outstanding. On the opening track “Let’s Go” he plays a funk motive in the same way say Billy Preston played in the early 1970s.
The drumming of Robert Tucker brings some excellent quick fills. Relying on the high hat is essential when bringing an album of material like this.
The traditionally arranged "The Handsome Cabin Boy" is the ten minute standout on the album. Great outdoor effects with the birds flying off in the distance, and the opening chords by Koppel, and the drumming of Nelson again stand out.
The Aaron Koppel Quartet and their album The Wild Call of the Multi-Taker is a great album. One should not multi-task when this album is being played – stop what you are doing, relax and enjoy.
Record Label Website: http://www.myspace.com/aaronkoppelmusic
Artist's Website: http://www.myspace.com/aaronkoppelmusic
Reviewed by:
Brenton Plourde
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