Haupers, Mitch: Invisible Cities

Mitch Haupers is a veteran jazz guitarist who has recently released his first album Invisible Cities as a band leader. Rounding out the quintet are Bob Mintzer (woodwinds), Alan Pasqua (piano), Darek Oles (bass) and Peter Erskine (drums). The album was produced by Yellowjackets longtime bass player Jimmy Haslip.

The album begins with the mellow "Veronica's Lake". Gentle cymbal taps, lyrical guitar phrases and lovely tenor sax should satisfy most fans of contemporary jazz.

"Downtime" begins with Darek Oles's beguiling bass work and continues with a melding of sax and guitar.

The gently moving "Isla Mujeres" features softly flowing tenor sax and Erskine's masterful brush strokes.

The album's focal point has to be the multi-part "Four Minor Love Songs Suite" which seems to mirror the excellent cover painting by Danae Syrrou. "Part I" is a chamber piece with melancholic piano and strings. Flute, horn, clarinet and bassoon soon join in giving the song a much fuller and orchestral sound. "Part II" features lovely strings and Haupers' poignant guitar phrasings. "Part III" continues the sad motif with stirring strings and the evocative voicings of Brooke deRosa while "Part IV" is much more upbeat with a lively horn section.

Invisible Cities is a very nice slice of mellow jazz filled to the brim with artful playing and exquisite finesse. It is one I highly recommend.

Track Listing:
1. Veronica's Lake (5:25)
2. Downtime (5:59)
3. Isla Mujeres (4:26)
4. Invisible Cities (7:12)
5. Leoa (6:54)
Four Minor Love Songs Suite:
6. Part I: Take Comfort (In Rose's Garden) (3:23)
7. Part II: The Farmer and the Monarch (5:05)
8. Part III: (In Came) Love, So Silent (6:19)
9. Part IV: Beacon Street (5:29)
10. Waltz for Bill (6:01)
11. P.S. Vita (Reprise) (1:58)

Added: September 9th 2014
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1991
Language: english

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