Saturday, January 7, 2012

1.) Rypdal/Vitous/DeJohnette - Rypdal, Vitous, DeJohnette (Top Jazz Picks '11)













Rypdal/Vitous/DeJohnette
Terje Rypdal, Miroslav Vitous & Jack DeJohnette
ECM Records.


Immediately standing out from the Dave Brubeck and Django Reinhardt records that sparked my collection, Rypdal/Vitous/DeJohnette opened my ears to a strain of jazz far-removed from the spritely golden age.

Dealing in drizzly organ and synthesized textures, the trio creates a series of improvisational passages that weave between murky tempos and blur instrumentally. The only distinct changes tend to occur when each musician takes their turn leading the pack; Rypdal, Vitous and DeJohnette are each awarded compositional credit to two tracks, with DeJohnette’s portion embracing the most overt departure through its percussive focus. As much a fusion of ambient and jazz as it is intricate mood music, Rypdal/Vitous/DeJohnette satisfies on a level that few traditional jazz ensembles can imagine.

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