JACK DEJOHNETTE — Music We Are (review)

JACK DEJOHNETTE — Music We Are album cover Album · 2008 · Post Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
snobb
Last to date Jack DeJohnette studio album isn't innovative and surprising, but it is quite fresh and pleasant listening.Recorded by trio with bassist John Patitucci and pianist Danilo Perez,it contains quality music,mixed of Latin jazz, some African rhythms,post-bop (with few quite free improvs) and soulful contemporary jazz.

Each composition differs from the previous one - opened with warm and a bit melancholic Latin "Tango African", album continues with dreamy "Earth Prayer".Groovy "Seventh D,1-st Movement" attracts by rich bass and elegant piano pulsation,second composition's part is nice example of classic piano-bass-drums composition (with serious accent on rhythm section's sound).

"Soulful Ballad" reminds Al Di Meola's New Sinfonia releases - influenced by Argentinian tango and with melodica sounding as accordion."Earth Speaks" brings a bit of classical influence - almost on the border line with avant-garde!"Cobilla" returns the listener back to more jazzy sound - post bop with African rhythms and Patitucci's electric bass line.

"Panama Viejo" is melancholic piano led ballad,"White" sounds almost as early Return To Forever song."Ode To MJQ" is surprisingly most free and experimental album's composition, with aerial changing rhythms contrasting with cool piano tunes.The closer - "Michael" is quite traditional melancholic ballade (almost bop).

Not the album for new sounds and ideas seekers, but pleasant and elegant musical collection for (still warm) autumn evening.
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