TOMAJAZZ
Review (Madrid, Spain) - translated to English from Spanish Published: June 1, 2009 |
Jason Rigby - The Sage Compositions: “Magenta”; “Crux”; “Shift of Color”; “The Sage”; “Tone Poem”; “Slip”; “The Archer”; “Jealous Moon”. Musicians: Jason Rigby (tenor and soprano saxophones, flute); Russ Johnson (trumpet); Mike Holober (Fender Rhodes); Cameron Brown (contrabass); Gerald Cleaver: (drums). Recorded on March 12, 2008 in New York. Commentary: The truth is that it is a pleasure to listen Jason Rigby. I thought similarly with overwhelming debut of Translucent Space, and I have returned to think the same of his second work. The Sage, as it is called, is a wonderful disc of contemporary jazz: good compositions, good interpreters, good chemistry among the band and good doses of improvisational quality. One of the keys of the success of the company is that Rigby has returned to surround himself by a band of weight. As on the first recording the great Cameron Brown and the undervalued Mike Holober, and complete the quintet is Russ Johnson and Gerald Cleaver. This group gives wings to the saxophonist to develop his ideas, that freely they are not few. The unique thing that can be recriminated to him to Rigby is its deficiency of own voice; aside from that it has everything: sound, ideas, language, inventiveness… On the other hand, that is much more than most of the instrumentalists of his generation. To Russ Johnson it passes a little to him just like to Rigby; it sounds well, he is interesting, it does not undertake an improvisation that do not go towards some site, etc; but he is not too original. The question is that together they make a music that, although already heard, sounds fresh and exciting. The compositions, composed by the leader in their totality, drink generally of the contemporary jazz and Ornette in particular. Perhaps Rigby does not have still the maturity necessary to be important, but it points ways, and it promises to arrive very high thanks to his capable compositions and at their fantastic style and sound, that something to Shorter than to Coltrane remembers more. As far as The Sage, aside from winds, the rythmical one is of such quality that turns to the disc into a really interesting newness. Little we can say of Brown and Cleaver that has not been said already. First a classic one is everything - and not by chance, and the second is one of the batteries empathicest and shining of the present time. The same happens with Holober, a wonderful pianist seasoned with Nick Brignola and in numerous groups in New York. Although it remains all the recording to the Rhodes, it is not cargante at any moment, and knows to express the instrument to the maximum. In fact, more cannot be asked. The disc is listened to with principle attention aim, is enjoyed completely and, when it finishes, gives one desire him to return to listen to it. Rigby still is a little green, but I am sure that soon it will surprise to us with an unforgettable disc. Wood exceeds to him. |
TOMAJAZZ Review - original in Spanish |
Jason Rigby - The Sage Composiciones: “Magenta”; “Crux”; “Shift of Color”; “The Sage”; “Tone Poem”; “Slip”; “The Archer”; “Jealous Moon”. |