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Tales
On this enchanting collection of eight originals and one familiar jazz standard, the empathetic trio of Czech bassist-composer Robert Balzar, pianist Stanislav Macha and drummer Jiri Slavicek strikes an immediate chemistry with special guest guitarist John Abercrombie, one of the great improvisers in jazz today. Utilizing his signature fingerstyle approach to the guitar and generating an uncanny, warm-toned flow of notes cascading forth from his instrument, Abercrombie “blows” fluid, horn-like lines over these thoughtful, harmonically sophisticated and inherently swinging compositions with his usual understated flair. Though the guitarist does play an electric guitar and infact incorporates just a touch of distortion in his six-string voice to give it a slight edgy quality, the overall effect is organic, effortless and beautiful. His brilliant playing throughout is supported by this uncommonly empathetic, highly interactive trio of top players on the Czech jazz scene...
Read whole review from Bill Makowski here >>
Bill Milkowski is a contributor of Jazz Times, Jazziz and Bass Player magazines in the United States. He also contributes to Guitar Club (Italy) and Jazzthing (Germany) and is the author of "JACO: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius" (Backbeat Books)
2. 22 Years ago 8:59
3. Just in Tune 7:36
4. Remember Hymn 4.04
5. Portissimo 8:37
6. Sing Song 6:19
7. Black Cat White Dog 5:20
8. Night 8:06
9. I Fall in Love to Easilly 4:56
total time 64:11
extract from Bill Milkowski review:
A SUPERB OUTING BY FOUR EXTRAORDINARY MUSICIANS
(...) Balzar’s “Portissimo” is an engaging melodic motif that gradually builds on top of Slavicek’s busy double-time pulse. (...) Abercrombie’s “Sing Song” begins with a hush, underscored by Slavicek’s deft brushwork (...)
extract from Tony Emmerson's review:
A new RBT album featuring Abercrombie, Tales, is due out in April, and it should be one of the highlights of the Prague Jazz year! The strength of this Trio lies in the quality of the individual players...
Read whole review from Tony Emmerson here >>