The Girshevich Trio featuring Eddie Gomez – Algorithmic Society – Tapestry

by | Oct 4, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

The Girshevich Trio featuring Eddie Gomez – Algorithmic Society – Tapestry 76026-2, 59:34 ***:

A release that has coherence of approach and concept.

(Vlad Girshevich – piano, synthesizers/ Aleks Girshevich – drums/ Eddie Gomez – acoustic bass)

Baroque music is a particular classical style that lasted for a period of 150 years from 1600 to 1750. Its principal feature, tonality, was an approach to writing music in a particular key. Vlad Girshevich writing in the liner notes to Algorithmic Society acknowledges that the underlying framework for some of this musical excursion is the Baroque period. While not necessarily a concept album, there is a central musical construct that is musically identifiable.

Of particular interest on this recording is bassist Eddie Gomez. A most compelling accompanist, Gomez spent eleven years with the Bill Evans Trio, starting in 1966 where he filled the long void left by bassist Scott La Faro who died in 1961. His big tone and expressive solos are a singular feature to the compositional work of pianist Vlad Girshevich starting with the opening track: “Healing The Chaos”. Bursting with requisite vigour, the music is supplemented with a string section that adds a tonal depth that is accentuated by the Middle Eastern touch provided by Rony Barrak on the Darbouka, Rig and Dal.

“A Rainbow On Your Carpet” opens with some intricately rhythmic drumming from the 12-year-old Aleks Girshevich, on whom the appropriate soubriquet ‘prodigy’ has been placed. Maintaining a blistering drumming pace throughout the number, Aleks pushes his pianist father Vlad to deliver a strong single note excursion covering the keyboard. Vlad is a classically educated pianist from Uzbekistan, which was formerly part of the old Soviet Union (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), but declared its independence from that entity in 1991. His technical proficiency is self-assured, and while he might not have swinging jazz chops, he does deliver interesting color and feel on “300 Years Ago” with Gomez offering contrapuntal support.

The Baroque influence re-appears on “Three Musketeers” and is elegant and probing, with Gomez showing his boundless inspiration, as pianist Vlad  ranges widely over the keys. The closing track is the title composition “Algorithmic Society” which is an up-tempo Latin-flavored theme. Drummer Aleks sets an intricate pace of percussive exploration, while pianist Vlad shows he is a knowledgeable improvisor.

TrackList: Healing The Chaos; A Rainbow On Your Carpet; When We Are Kids; 300 Years Ago; A Far Away Place; Three Musketeers; A Song Of An Old Tree; Unborn Tales; Algorithmic Society

—Pierre Giroux

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