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When the pandemic hit, Joel Ross returned to his studies at the prestigious New School conservatory in New York. As part of his degree requirements, he took a class on the blues, which ended up having a profound impact on him. He used to see the blues as a traditional 12-bar structure, but now he sees it as more of a feeling or energy.
The global health crisis caused Ross to question if his three prior albums for Blue Note were overly intricate and focused on manipulating time and tempo, potentially overwhelming for casual listeners.
This album, created with his regular band Good Vibes, showcases a talented quartet including alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins. The collection features breezy interpretations of Thelonious Monk’s Evidence and John Coltrane’s Equinox and Central Park West, as well as seven original compositions. The title track and Mellowdee highlight Ross’s musical abilities with their shimmering melodies. The former has a distinct vibes-in-dub sound with its echoing runs, while the latter showcases Ross and Wilkins’s skills through a lively exchange. What Am I Waiting For? draws inspiration from Charles Mingus’s mournful Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, while Bach (God the Father in Eternity) has a church-like quality. In Chant, Ross briefly switches to piano for an intense duet with flautist and partner, Gabrielle Garo.
A unique tribute to customs.
Source: theguardian.com
