All Our Reasons

マイルス・デイヴィス、スタン・ゲッツ、ハービー・ハンコックをはじめとする錚々たるジャズ・ジャイアンツたちとの共演を誇り、チャールズ・ロイド・カルテットのメンバーとしても活躍したビリー・ハート(ds)が、“フライ”のメンバーであるマーク・ターナー(ts)、バッド・プラスでも活動するイーサン・アイバーソン(p)、そして数々のジャズ・アーティストと共演してきたコントラバス奏者ベン・ストリートと2003年に結成したカルテットによる、2005年『QUARTET』以来7年振りとなるアルバム。各人の確かな技術に裏打ちされた、クールで精緻なサウンドが全編に展開されている。

In 2003, this group was called the Ethan Iverson/Mark Turner Quartet. Master drummer Billy Hart asked if he could borrow the band's name as his own for a show in his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey. The other members -- who also include bassist Ben Street -- voted to name it for him permanently. They recorded their well-received Quartet for High Note in 2005, and have played together live whenever schedules permit. All Our Reasons was recorded in June of 2011 in New York; it marks Hart's debut as a leader for ECM. His "Song for Balkis" opens the album with a brief but animated drum solo primarily on tom-toms, before he is joined by Iverson and Street; finally Turner enters in what develops as a shimmering, elliptical yet melodic exploration that feels more like a group improvisation. Iverson's "Ohnedaruth" begins with an extended piano solo before the band enters at the halfway point and deftly executes the pianist's extrapolation of themes inherent to John Coltrane's "Giant Steps." (The tune is titled after the late saxophonist's adopted spiritual name.) Hart's gorgeous cymbal work and propulsive bluesy swing drive "Tolli's Dance," with compelling work from Turner. Speaking of Turner, his "Nigeria" is a canny investigation of a Sonny Rollins number with the title reversed. It's a fine example of 21st century post-bop harmonic interplay with all the swing and fingerpopping intact. Set closer "Imke's March," by Hart, begins and ends with a whistled melody that he used to call his daughter in from the playground. Iverson makes the most of the melody, using his signature sense of diatonic lyricism and developing the theme in increments with Turner stating each new development. Street holds it taut as Hart uses cymbals and snare to "dance" around the trio, while keeping the thematic "march" sense throughout. All Our Reasons is wonderfully executed, and full of excellent tunes, nice improvisational turns, numerous surprises (many of them subtle), and a warm, lively sense of engagement throughout. ~ Thom Jurek

マーク・ターナー(ts)、ザ・バッド・プラスのイーサン・アイバーソン(P)を迎えたベテラン、ビリー・ハートのECMからの新作。同じメンツによる前作のライヴ盤とは異なり、独特の緊張感あふれる音の空気感はさすがのECM 録音。この10 年余のあいだ最も多くのフォロアーを生んだ寡黙にして孤高のサックス奏者マーク・ターナーのプレイもたっぷりと楽しめる。《ジャイアント・ステップス》や《エアジン》の斬新な解釈も一聴の価値あり。
intoxicate (C)稲田利之