Noy's approach to the project was to reimagine these standards in a way that felt natural to him, allowing him to infuse each piece with his distinctive musical voice. By doing so, he aimed to strike a balance between honouring the traditional essence of the songs and showcasing his personal artistic vision. Noy’s method involves playing the tunes live first, allowing ideas and concepts to emerge organically during performances. This process helps him discover his own vision and feeling for each standard, rather than pre-planning arrangements at home.

The album opens with "Fun One," a groove-oriented and vibrant original where Noy's soloing features lively, bebop-influenced lines that add to the track's energetic feel. The rhythm section of Kikoski, Genus, and Penn locks in to provide a stable platform, allowing the soloist the freedom to innovate. Despite his reputation for fusion and groove-oriented music, the guitarist's deep-rooted experience with jazz standards proves invaluable. Noy reflects, “I’ve been playing standards and jazz all my life, and probably since 2017 with this quartet. I’ve just never recorded it.” The quartet tackles Miles Davis’s "Solar" from an abstract angle, straying away from conventional time signatures, which blurs the bar lines. True to the original, "Milestones" swings emphatically, with slight distortion on the guitar adding a fresh tone as it steams through sweeping runs interjected with blues licks. Dave Kikoski, an underrated pianist well-known in the jazz sphere, follows up with expert fluidity on the piano. 

The usual straight-ahead blues of "Sandu" is reimagined through an explorative arrangement, added interludes, and harmonic reharmonisation, creating a contrasting performance that, importantly, still swings as it unfolds. Upon the start of Monk’s "Ruby, My Dear," we’re transported to Latin America. The group’s presentation of this standard is relaxed and cool, maintaining constant dialogue with one another. Kikoski delivers a lyrical solo that complements the vibe without becoming superfluous, a trap that many musicians can fall into. The bandleader is not afraid of breaking norms, as shown on "Darn That Dream," an elegant ballad composed by Jimmy Van Heusen. Noy’s interpretation jumps between a raw, unbridled melody and an easygoing swing over the bridge, a decision that keeps the listener’s attention.

"Giant Steps" opens with a soloistic venture from the guitarist, wandering through the harmonic progression in search of new sounds to expand the Coltrane composition. For some purists, it may seem too far removed from the original, while others may welcome the change. The album culminates with "Improv 1," a solo guitar musing that shares thematic similarities with the preceding "Giant Steps." Tapping into electronic pedals to create an open-ended atmosphere with reverb and delay aplenty, the improvisation has no set boundaries, allowing the music to flow wherever it feels natural—a principle the Israeli guitarist adheres to throughout his artistic career.

Fun One documents Oz Noy's blending of his distinctive sound with a more traditional jazz idiom. The result is a collection that is both innovative and respectful of the genre's roots. Recorded with a stellar line-up that pushes the boundaries of the music, this Criss Cross Jazz debut marks a significant milestone in Noy's career, presenting a mature, sophisticated sound that will undoubtedly appeal to both long-time fans and new listeners alike.

Dan Spirrett

from www.prestomusic.com