Michael Gregory Jackson Clarity Quartet: WHENUFINDITUWILLKNOW

Veteran recording artist Michael Gregory Jackson has jumped into a diverse pool of musical styles and influences on WHENUFINDITUWILLKNOW. The record covers, as many modern artists’ seem to do, doses of influences that perhaps leap-frog the listener. Jazz, of course, as well as elements of funk, R&B, blues, folk, rock, experimental music, etc. There is a samba here (‘Ah Yah’), Doses of Pat Metheny there ( ‘Shade X’) ECM-like rubato with bursts of guitar leads and ‘ohh-ahh’ vocal interjections (‘Meditations in E’) I keep waiting for the rainstick to show up. This guitarist has played with the likes of saxophonists Oliver Lake and David Murray and Anthony Braxton, and has done his avant-jazz duty. You won’t find that here, but the tunes are more than enjoyable.

The MGJ Clarity Quartet is long on Scandinavian talent (Niels Praestholm - bass, Simon Spang-Hanssen - alto & soprano saxophones, Matias Wolf Andreason - drums) Of particular interest are the dual leads between guitar and alto sax, these juxtaposed against a sometimes herky-jerky feel from the rhythm section that at times defies a ‘pocket.’ Lots of color and melody here though, give it a listen!

Track Listing:

1. Theme-X (Dedicated to Geri Allen) (5:44)

2. Clarity 6 (Dedicated to Fred Hopkins) (4:09)

3. Spin (Dedicated to Baikida Carroll) (4:02)

4. Blue Blue (Dedicated to Bruce Kevin Jackson) (5:40)

5. Clarity 3 (6:34)

6. Ah Yay (7:25)

7. Collectors of Social Dismay (7:04)

8. Souvenirs (Dedicated to Jessica Hagedorn) (3:25)

9. Meditation in E (Dedicated to Karen) (3:33)  

Added: March 17th 2019
Reviewer: Ed Tarzia
Score:
Related Link: Artist Website
Hits: 871
Language: english

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