snobb
It took quite a lot of time for me to find out my key to sax player Tony Malaby music, and that key was his Tamarindo project - a supertrio with bassist William Parker and drummer Nasheet Waits. Parker needs no introduction,he's a cult bassist leading his own projects for decades,one of my bass-hero of all times. Nasheet Waits is a New-Yorker who played in pianist Jason Moran's Bandwagon (fantastic band even if a bit too straight for my taste) where I saw him playing live a decade or so ago.
"Somos Aqua" is third Tamarindo album, all released on Portuguese Clean Feed. Power trio plays groovy dense progressive jazz with lots of experimental steps and tricks but never lost the track. Working as one unity,all three musicians demonstrate excellent balance between tunes and space,free and organized. Music is complex,running as river flows,changing every minute but very permanent in its continuity.
Malaby's sax sounds ascetic,often warm and lyrical, sometimes harsh. His power is not in loudness or emotive attacks,but in philosophical talking-like acuity,constant dialogue with bassist and drummer(can't call them rhythm section here - both Parker and Waits are equal soloists and creators on this album).
More concentrated and crystallized than on Malaby's works with bigger bands,Tamarindo's music is the place where his talent shows at its best. One among better advanced jazz albums coming from 2014.