Romanticism and mood setting shine here…
Elan Mehler – Renee Said – Newvelle Records #NV-038 – 180 gm audiophile vinyl – ****1/2
(Elan Mehler – piano; Loren Stillman – alto sax; Scott Robinson – tenor sax; Ben Monder – guitar; Tony Scherr – bass; Francisco Mela – drums; Matt Wilson – drums)
For the third entry in the Newvelle 10 anniversary series, the label’s co-owner, pianist Elan Mehler, has put together a dream sextet of musicians to help bring his vision of chamber music meeting blues, and meditative beauty, combining mood shifts, and counterpoint communication.
Choosing saxophonists, Loren Stillman, and legendary multi-reed master, Scott Robinson (here on tenor sax), with guitar wizard, Ben Monder, was a brilliant idea. Adding two drummers, Francisco Mela and Matt Wilson, for color, and shading just adds flavor to the mix.
Marc Urselli handled the recording and mixing, while Matthew Lutthans (he seems to be everywhere lately) did the mastering. The sound mix is pristine and the instruments blend impeccably, honoring the symbiotic interaction between the group.
The title track helps set the mood with minimalist lines, with introspection and passion reigning. Ben Monder’s fills add so much here, and throughout all tracks. “Byablue,” begins anthemic, and the saxes caress the melody. Elan’s piano brightens and elevates, and the saxes have blues driven choruses.
“Dani’s Fortress” highlights the group’s symbiosis, and the swing is contagious. “White Cloud’s Dark Sky” has a gorgeous melody, with counterpoint, while Monder’s shape shifting lets the saxes’ blues riffs take over. “Wolf Orchard” is mournful and tender, and Monder’s guitar is again featured.
Side 2 has “Yonder Waters,” sets a dreamy mood with resonant guitar. “Quickening,” written by Frank Kimbrough, has a chamber music feel, but also I heard a blues influence enter again from the saxophones. “The Violence of Reason,” (such a heavy title), has a winning melody with a “down home” blues saxophone solo, and Mehler’s piano choruses match the “soul” of the horns.
The closing track, “Tilt” has major tension escalation, like a pinball machine, “tilting” into free blowing, before returning into the easygoing opening melody. I’m sure they had fun on this one.
Elan should be mighty proud of the joyful listening that Renee Said brings.
The superb acoustics just sweeten the pot. Long live Newvelle Records. Their 10th anniversary series continues with more releases soon.
—Review by Jeff Krow
Elan Mehler – Renee Said
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Renee Said, Byablue,
Dani’s Fortress,
White Cloud’s Dark Sky,
Wolf Orchard
Side 2:
Yonder Waters,
Quickening,
The Violence of Reason,
Tilt
