ARAM SHELTON — There Was... (review)

ARAM SHELTON — There Was... album cover Album · 2011 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Ricochet
I have a soft spot for vibraphone music, no doubt coming from Gary Burton's and Chick Corea's classic duos. Most often the vibraphonist is credited with a supporting role, managing however to take the music into a whole new direction. Tim Buckley's Happy Sad turns into sublime, azure folk. Without Bobby Hutcherson's quirky jangle in "Out to Lunch"'s theme (a brief rhythm, overlayed anyway until Dolphy and Hubbard keep their fingers on the valves or pause for breath), the piece (and album, even!) would turn out imperfect. You can fill in with your own examples now.

Obviously, when it comes to Arrive's newest album, I'm trying to compliment Jason Adasiewicz most, for his well-placed accent on what mallet jazz means: respiring melodies, powdery nuances, vibrations and echoes, lofty harmonies or flashing percussive hits. Any lead in this album is otherwise arguable. Aram Shelton might be known better for avant-garde flourishes, having indeed slightly more temperamental entries. Tim Daisy's conception on everything is laid-back and sheathing, whilst Jason Roebke's bass sounds at times surprisingly articulate. Arrive are setting the pace among the new Chicago ensembles, and "There Was..." is a mixture of fine-spun free-jazz and thrilling "nu-bop".

An album of grooves, unwinds and suspenses altogether, a highlight this year, with the highly regarded kind of aesthetic refinement, musically delish.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Eugenie Vocal Jazz
EUGENIE JONES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Washington Square Church 1st Show, New York, NY, USA, September 9, 1995 Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ROBERT FRIPP
Buy this album from MMA partners
Washington Square Church 2nd Show, New York, NY, USA, September 9, 1995 Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ROBERT FRIPP
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Unknown Worlds of the Juno Chronicles Nu Jazz
SLIPPERS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Segaki Avant-Garde Jazz
HUNGRY GHOSTS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Zukunft
KEMACA KINETIC
js· 13 hours ago
*EUGENIE* New Release & Performances!
EUGENIE JONES
js· 13 hours ago
Lucid
SLIPPERS
js· 13 hours ago
Adalar
RADHIKA DE SARAM
js· 1 day ago
Rule of Thumb
JEFF SHIRLEY
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed