Shepik, guitars; Matt Kilmer, percussion) – Songlines Multichannel SACD
SGL SA1555-2, 64:14 ****:
“File under: jazz/world fusion” says a note at the bottom of the rear
cover of this SACD, and that IDs its sonic world fairly well. Not as
ascetic, spare or atonal as some of the other modern jazz coming from this
enterprising British Colombia label, the Lingua Franca trio brings in
elements of East Indian music, Arabic and associated folk cultures,
meditational music, and a sometimes quirky modern jazz idiom not far
from Thelonious Monk. Both the opening Two Door and the later Here
& There place improvisations by the sax and guitar over a chugging
bed of tabla-like percussion. In Sunrise, a reggae beat takes us
to the Caribbean. Others are in a more mainstream jazz bag. The tunes
are credited to either the guitarist or reed player, and the melodies often
sound like they could be genuine folk songs from various exotic
regions. Matt Kilmer’s percussion arsenal aids in setting up a more or
less authentic-sounding rhythmic accompaniment, which a standard drum
set couldn’t hope to communicate. The session was taped in New York City – analog
multitrack and then converted to DSD, but signal-to-noise is excellent
and the three performers are placed on the soundstage with great
realism.
Tracks: Two Door, Miro, Emerald, Témoin, Here & There, Monsaraz, Kumanovo, Sunrise, Meditation, Improvisation I
– John Henry
