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DVDfever.co.uk – Michael Janisch: Purpose Built CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Whirlwind Recordings
- Released: October 2009
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
Beefy modern jazz, from America.
For those of you with a keen ear for contemporary jazz this CD is a must.
The thought of an instrumental album by a jazz bassist might not be an exciting one. Think again. To his credit, Michael Janisch hasnt tried to play the star here Purpose Built is very much a collective effort.Wisconsin raised Janisch is a relative newcomer on the jazz scene, nevertheless, he has quality in abundance, and hes out to prove it.His work is sincere and uncompromising at every level, setting new standards in exploratory sojourns.
With a huge band, a nine piece outfit behind him, he can throw all manner of instrumentation into the pot.Naturally the bassist has to have the first shout, so his mellow but funky bass opens the flourishing and urban cool of Precisely Now. This is textured by blasts of sublime jangly vibraphone and smooth sax breaks setting a classy tone for the rest of the album. It has an undeniable jam session feel sure to appeal to modern tastes.
Slipstreaming into another masterful clutter of instrumentation there are ghosts of contemporary R&B shimmering through the drumming sequences allowing the lead guitarist to texturise with rippling guitar licks supported by huge dollops of edgy brass solos.
Things go mellower on the piano driven Love Is A Many Splendored Thing. Aaron Goldberg, one of the many notables on the current scene, is given a free rein to perform a masterclass on the ivories.With Miles Davis repertoire very much in mind, Davis 1946 Milestones (not to be confused with the 1958 version), the masterpiece is given a good old dusting down, spanning six minutes plus.
Theres a lot of intricate detail going on here in Janischs new arrangement, featuring some mind-boggling sax work.Serenade Of The Sea, one of seven originals by Janisch, creates the atmosphere of lazily drifting on the waves, featuring some stylish but understated drumming by Jonathan Blake. You can almost see and feel the ebb and flow, propelled by some exquisite vibraphone workouts.
Punchy Pukl-n-Pappo is a bouncy jaunt with a more regular pattern though the sharp trumpet from Jason Palmer adds plenty of spice through the sonic gymnastics.Smooth Lost Creek again features the dazzling skills of Goldberg on piano with the ensemble providing an understated backdrop for the keys to become the main focus. Janischs basslines are laidback and cool giving a solid foundation.
After a linear opening, Beep bursts into action, principally due to some flamboyant trumpet exploits by Palmer and equally impressive energetic vibraphone workouts from Jim Hart.Finally Janisch gets to show his bass mastery on the pulsating closer Moments Notice, showing refined dexterity on electric bass.
The verdict Excellent.
Weblinks:michaeljanisch.com / myspace.com/michaeljanisch (Track samples)
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Precisely Now
2. Adelante
3. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
4. Shumshi
5. Milestones
6. Serenade Of The Seas
7. Pukl-n-Pappo
8. Sofa Stomp
9. Lost Creek
10. Blood Count
11. Beep
12. Moments NoticeView the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.