Musicians: Dave Allen (guitars), Seamus Blake (tenor saxophone), Drew Gress (bass), and Mark Ferber (drums)
Review:
Dave Allen’s jazz quartet maps out casual tempos, simmering verses, and comfortably weaving shuffles in their jams for the group’s latest release Real And Imagined, produced by Dave Allen. The music has a nostalgic jazz aura and the group’s enthusiasm for being liberal with their improvisations is apparent. The combinations show a fearless quality in the plotting notes of the group comprised of Dave Allen (guitars), Seamus Blake (tenor saxophone), Drew Gress (bass), and Mark Ferber (drums).
There are upbeat tracks like “Mantra" and “Untold Story,” and there are sparse melodies that project a moonlit ambience like the languid swells of “Musing” and “Playground (Part 1).” The group’s swiveling rides and calming drifts are made from equal parts of all the instruments. The instruments are continually involved with each other so the plot lines include everyone in the quartet. Numbers like “Slipping Glimpser” and “Always Beginning’ produce gliding harmonies which move the melodic passages along the same path. The teamwork is impressive and it maintains a high level of consonance through the compositions. The whispering guitar chords of “Musing” are punctuated by light prowling ripples of the saxophone while the gingerly oscillating rhythm sections support the interlocking notes. The crisp, steady beats of the bass and drum patterns for “Intimate Intricate Distance” are culled into a night-time stroll as the blending of the keys produce softly whipped melodic passages that feel listless and relaxing.
The songs are lean and loosely structured contoured by melodic impressions with a lounging swagger. The album has everything that is good for the soul and loving to the community. The group’s melodic creations have jazz atmospherics, which are equally nostalgic and original sounding.
Tracks: Slipping Glimpser, Always Beginning, Musing, Mantra, Real And Imagined, Intimate Intricate Distance, Perpetuum Mobile, Playground (Park 1), Untold Story
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