Angular Blues

現ジャズ・ギター界における"輝く光"とThe New Yorker誌が絶賛するオーストリア出身のギタリスト、ムースピールによるトリオ作品2作目。これまでムースピールはECMから3枚のリーダー作をリリースしているが、本トリオで2014年に「Driftwood」でデビューを飾り、その後は2枚のクインテット作品をリリース。本作では長年のコラボレーターBrian Blade(ds)は一緒だが、前作でベースを務めていたLarry Grenadierは今回参加しておらず、Scott Colleyがベースを担当、アーシ―なベース・サウンドがよりダイナミックさを演出。

ムースピールはアコースティックとエレクトリック・ギターの両方を使用し、得意のメロディックなオリジナル曲を主に披露するが、初めてスタンダード"Everything I Love"と "I'll Remember April"やビバップ曲"Ride"にも取り組んでいる。さらにソロ・ギター曲 "Solo Kanon in 5/4," でのエレキ・ギターのディレイ・サウンドによるバロック超の曲も聴きどころだ。

180g重量盤LP。

After a pair of quintet offerings with Brad Mehldau and Ambrose Akinmusire, Austrian guitarist and composer Wolfgang Muthspiel returns to the trio format he established on ECM with 2014s Driftwood. Whereas the previous outings all featured bassist Larry Grenadier, it is Scott Colley who claims the bass chair here. All three members have worked with one another sufficiently to make Angular Blues sound relaxed, natural, and locked in. Blade and Muthspiel have been working together on-stage and in the studio for quite a while; in addition to Muthspiels bands, the pair work together in the duo Friendly Travelers. The guitarist and Colley played together often in the 90s, and the bassist and drummer have worked together in the Steel House trio with pianist Edward Simon. The group cut this date in a Tokyo studio after a three-night, six-set run at the citys Cotton Club. The program consists of eight Muthspiel originals and, for the first time on any of his recordings, a pair of jazz standards: Ill Remember April and Everything I Love. In addition, the recording marks another first for the guitarist on ECM, in that he employs an acoustic guitar on the three opening pieces. Wondering is introduced by Colleys warm, fluid, wide-toned bass. He both trades and punctuates lines by Muthspiel as Blade dances in five around and through them both. Muthspiels solo effortlessly moves between shaped, rhythmic chords and single-string playing. Utilizing Latin and post-bop rhythms, the title track is an involved, complex exchange of vamps and chords with syncopated rhythms and a popping bassline with fine solos from Blade and Colley. Huttengriffe is a quietly majestic, emotionally resonant Americana ballad that sounds at home next to Bill Frisells similarly minted material. With Camino, Muthspiels electric guitar makes its entry and remains present on the rest of the date. The guitarist plays solo slowly and impressionistically over the first 80 seconds before Blades whispering cymbals and gentle tom-tom and snare join him. Colley initially walks the backdrop but asserts single notes and minimal rhythmic runs in support. Muthspiels solo is elegant, unhurried, and full of harmonic surprises. Ride marks the first time the guitarist has ever included bebop rhythm changes on a record and its a doozy: Fleet, knotty, engaged and almost funky with double-timed breaks by Blade, a tight solo by Colley, and Muthspiels channeling of Barney Kessel and Billy Bauer. Kanon in 6/8 is delivered as a tight, punchy exchange of interrogatory statements from the rhythm section as the guitarist cascades 16th and eighth notes in a syncopated solo. Solo Kanon in 5/4 follows, played by Muthspiel with a delay box to recall the spirit of Bach and Scarlatti. Despite its relaxed feel, Angular Blues offers intense musical sensitivity, keen, active interplay and improvisatory flair. With crystalline production and canny collaboration by three jazz masters, Angular Blues adds not only depth and breadth to Muthspiels ECM catalog, its weighty enough to own a chapter in the history book of jazz guitar trios. ~ Thom Jurek