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June 2006, be.jazz
As Of Yet is trumpeter André Canniere's debut. Four studio cuts are
complemented by (and, in two cases, overlap with) three live
recordings. The inclusion of the latter is a good thing, as they
yield a rawer view of the band (and not only because of the cavernous
sound quality) and a better take on the title track: the studio
version of "As Of Yet" is rather dry and inexpressive, but live,
timbral nuances give it expressiveness and the particularly punchy
rhythm section gives it lift.
Canniere's at his best as composer and arranger: long melodies that
unfurl majestically before suddenly flaring up and melancholy ballads
both sit easily on top of often complex rhythmic and harmonic
patterns. As a writer, Canniere's melodic sense is highly informed by
contemporary rock and pop, so a downcast ballad like "The Rest" has
as least as much in common melodically with quiet indie-rock as with
the traditional jazz ballad. This sounds natural: the sound of a
generation that's been developing, on both sides of the Atlantic,
since the late '90s.
There's an excellent rapport between bassist Ike Sturm and drummer
Ted Poor, which sets the basis for a context that seamlessly blends
jazz, rock and pop rhythmic feels while balancing extensive
arrangements with spontaneous decision-making. The extended groove
that opens the live version of "Accelerated Decrepitude" is a good
example of how well the pair works together.
The trumpeter is conspicuously generous with solo space but guides
his soloists with an unoppressive invisible hand. As the band digs in
more aggressively and buoyantly outside the recording studio, the
tunes' building blocks inspire rather than hinder, which is what
jazz composer/arrangers are supposed to do, right? On the studio
version of "Accelerated Decrepitude," the best of the leader's five
compositions, Canniere fluidly swaggers through the changes before
saxophonist Josh Rutner (both Rutner and Poor are members of the
Respect Sextet) leisurely turns one of the tune's riffs inside out.
Rutner mines the same idea on the live version, but this time shares
the work with Sturm and guitarist Ryan Ferreira.
Ferreira, showcased on "As Of Yet" and "The Rest," is a strikingly
patient improviser who extends the compositions in fitting yet
unexpected ways: fragmented, fairly static phrases only slowly
expand their note and rhythmic choices. For example, on the live
version of "As Of Yet," he's happy to engage the groove solely with
oddly-paced block chords."
-Mwanji Ezana,
be.jazz , June 2006