Billy Hart Quartet: One Is The Other

Drummer Billy Hart has been around the jazz scene for decades as both a sideman and band leader. One Is The Other is the second release by the quartet. Rounding out the foursome is Mark Turner (tenor saxophone), Ethan Iverson (piano) and Ben Street (double bass).

First things first. Like all ECM releases this is not an easy album 'to get' but as usual the listener's persistence should pay off in the end. As we have come to expect from the ECM roster of artists the playing is very good and the production from Manfred Eicher is crystal clear.

Hart shows is true team player mentality throughout the album, letting each musician shine while managing to hold it all together. His drumming is both complex and restrained preferring to remain in the background and letting the quartet do its thing. Some of the saxophone and piano work is truly beautiful like in the calming "Some Enchanted Evening", as both musicians blend together their rich tapestries of sound. At other times the sound is more dissonant with the experimental "Amethyst" being a prime example. Complex drum patterns and off kilter instrumentation makes for a dynamic listening experience. In the album closer "Big Trees" Hart shows his stuff right from the beginning with subtly chaotic drum lines in parallel with Turner's absorbing sax stylings.

With ECM you are assured a quality and challenging listen and in that regard One Is The Other is an unqualified success. Recommended for jazz fans not afraid to step outside the box.

Track Listing:
1. Lennie Groove (6:50)
2. Maraschino (5:51)
3. Teule's Redemption (7:21)
4. Amethyst (8:06)
5. Yard (5:07)
6. Sonnet For Stevie (8:43)
7. Some Enchanted Evening (5:19)
8. Big Trees (4:14)

Added: March 7th 2014
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1947
Language: english

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