Swept Away is the title of the new release from the collaboration of double-bassist Marc Johnson and pianist Eliane Elias, but equally important are the contributions of drummer Joey Baron and tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano. All four are veterans of the ECM roster, and working together as a quartet the musicians have delivered some magical sounds on Swept Away.
Most of the songs here just reek of class and majestic-ness thanks to all involved, whether it be the lush opening title track, and sultry "It's Time", or the dramatic & engaging "One Thousand and One Nights". Elias always seems to be at the forefront with her regal melodies, anchored by the elastic grooves and Johnson and Baron's gentle touch. Lovano's yearning lines perfectly mimic Johnson's tender notes on "When the Sun Comes Up", and the gorgeous "B Is For Butterfly" contains possibly some of the most charming interplay amongst Elias and Johnson on the CD. Other highlights include the smokey jazz of "Midnight Blue", the more complex "Sirens of Titan" (featuring some great melodies from Lovano), and the exquisite "Inside Her Old Music Box", an intoxicating number co-written by both Elias & Johnson that features some wonderful plucked & bowed bass work from Johnson. The bassist again wows on the haunting closer "Shenandoah", delivering some restrained yet highly melodic lead bass lines and chords.
Swept Away will indeed leave jazz fans 'swept away' by its beauty and class, as these four musicians have put together a highly enjoyable platter of sophisticated and melodic jazz that falls more on the laid back end but satisfies greatly. We can only hope that we'll hear more from this outfit in the years to come.
Track Listing
01 – Swept Away
02 – It's Time
03 – One Thousand And One Nights
04 – When The Sun Comes Up
05 – B Is For Butterfly
06 – Midnight Blue
07 – Moments
08 – Sirens Of Titan
09 – Foujita
10 – Inside Her Old Music Box
11 – Shenandoah
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