The disc opens with an original
tune, “Cloud Break,” and as it begins it feels exactly how the title would lead
you to expect. With the sun breaking through the clouds to bring some light,
some joy to those of us below, the music seems to urge folks to come out of
doors, to gather in the warmth, to celebrate. And we could all use a break in
the clouds these days, right? There is a section where the bass leads a groovy
charge forward, while Brad Turner’s lead offers some delightful thoughts above
it. The piece then takes us into some interesting areas, particularly during
that saxophone lead. That is followed by “Motion.” There is something uplifting
about this piece. And though there is motion, as indicated by the title, the piece is
not in any hurry, and it seems to gather us before then taking off into
groovier territory. I love Frank Carlberg’s work on piano. It is that
instrument that is determined to dig a little deeper, and is supported by Michael
Sarin on drums, getting things pumping along. We then arrive at a rather
peaceful plateau, where we catch our breath, take in our surroundings, before
the saxophone leads us to another cool place, with the piano continuing to
interact.
Some pretty and somber work on
piano begins “Makeshift Memorial,” drawing us in. Then, after a minute and a
half or so, the other musicians enter, yet keep that serious tone. There seem to
be many makeshift memorials these days. The other day my girlfriend and I came
upon one on our daily walk. It was for a man who died on his 25th birthday. We
were not sure the cause and didn’t know the person, but it affected us
nonetheless. Someone wrote in chalk on the street, “Please come back.” And
there is something of that sense of reaching out in this piece. Reaching out,
even if it might be futile. And some comfort is offered, and, before the end,
some hope, some love. “Night Devoid Of Stars,” the album’s title track, has an
intriguing opening, particularly that work on piano and those strange touches
from the horn section, which are offered in a language that is outside our
normal scope. There is something tense about it, and also a sense of excitement.
And when things become more familiar, we wonder, has the music
changed, or have we adapted? Either way, we have now come together with the
music, and there is a joy emerging, so when things get a little crazy, a little
chaotic, we are ready. The music’s concerns are now our concerns. Then as the
track is nearing its conclusion, we get some more nice solo work on piano.
The album’s only cover is
“Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” and it is an unusual take on the song, seeming to
come from a darker place than normal, leading us to we look for that break in
the clouds that the first track provided. We do get some lighter moments, but there
is something unsteady about the landscape of this rendition, like we could
stumble into some other realm just below the surface, where things might appear
similar to our reality but have a frightening, or even dangerous, vein running
through them. The warmth that comes at times isn’t completely to be trusted. There
is a bit of tension at the beginning of “Indelible,” seeming to drive the
piece forward. Then a gentle, slow groove is established, and at a certain
point there is an odd and delightful sense of play, like mischievous pixies
entering the room. I love that section. The album concludes with “Song For
Henrique,” a song that builds and swells at the beginning, then changes tones,
as the more somber piano lead takes over. The piece then engages us in a dance,
and though things get wilder from there, we never stray too far from it. We
ride this dance to the end, wherever it may take us.
CD Track List
- Cloud Break
- Motion
- Makeshift Memorial
- Night Devoid Of Stars
- Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
- Indelible
- Song For Henrique
Night Devoid Of Stars was released on June 12, 2020 on Cellar Live
Records.
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