Quartet Equinox – Philip’s Wish – DIP Records multichannel SACD 90209-2, 43.1 min.
****:
(Dirk Kleutgens, Flamenco guitar; Andy Suzuki, reeds; Dean Taba, doublebass; Christiano Novelli, percussion)
One interesting bit of fallout from the major labels dropping most of their artists and the performers issuing their own recordings is that some of these performers deliberately choose to present their work in the best possible recording quality – and that usually means SACD. Guitarist Kleutgens is one these. He recorded all four performers simultaneously in a studio in Torrance, CA, for the most realistic sonic representation of each instrument and all four working together in real time.
The music is a pleasant blend of jazz and world music with a Spanish tinge, with a number of tracks showing Kleutgens’ interest in Flamenco guitar. The opening track uses a Siguiriyas rhythm but sounds like a blues. Rapid Waters is based on a Flamenco rhumba. The album title comes from Kleutgens’ son Philip, who wanted to have this track that he especially liked named after him. Tunes like Calico Cat are more straight-ahead and swinging jazz with a rapid guitar line. All the compositions are by Kleutgens. The clarity of the surround version brings the listener right into the session; can’t imagine just listening to the two-channel option. Also was glad the music has plenty of life to it and is not so overly-introspective as some ECM and Songlines sessions tend to be.
TrackList: The Antagonist, Toba Theory, Fahrvergnugen, Rapid Waters, Esther’s Song, Philip’s Wish, Calico Cat, The Traveler.
– John Henry
