In My Element＜限定盤＞

2005年にブルーノート・デビューを果たし、ジャズ界に特異な新しい声の到来を告げたロバート・グラスパーの2007年リリースのブルーノート2枚目が登場!

本作で音楽を新たな場所に導く新星としての地位を確固たるものにし、ヴィセンテ・アーチャー(ベース)とダミオン・リード(ドラムス)の2人と共にヒップホップとゴスペルのルーツをさらに掘り下げ、モダン・ジャズの可能性を広げた!

〈パーソネル〉Robert Glasper (p) Vicente Archer (b) Damion Reid (ds)

Pianist Robert Glasper was Blue Note's big discovery of 2005, a young player whose music fit into jazz's modern mainstream yet was open to the influences of R&B and hip-hop, both of which he had performed previously. What is particularly impressive about Glasper's playing on In My Element is that he does not sound like anyone else. Although his style does not necessarily blaze any new paths and this is a conventional if modern piano trio CD, Glasper has his own sound and approach. Bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Damion Reid work very well with Glasper. The three musicians blend together perfectly and think along similar lines. While "Silly Rabbit," with its use of an answering machine message, is a little eccentric and the closing "Tribute" has excerpts from a eulogy for Glasper's mother recited by Reverend Joe Ratliff, the music in general is not so much innovative as it is a revitalization of the jazz piano trio. The thought-provoking improvisations grow in interest with each listen. ~ Scott Yanow

モス・デフにロイ・ハーグローヴ、彼の才能の虜になったミュージシャンは数知れず。NY出身の新世代ピアニストによるブルー・ノートでの2作目が登場。スリリングなビートと美メロが重なる“G&B”、スモーキーな空間を演出するサム・リヴァースのカヴァー“Beatrice”、亡き天才へのオマージュ“J Dillalude”など、ジャズの繊細な息遣いを湛えたプレイとソウルフルな精神が見事に融合した、美しい楽曲が目白押しだ。
bounce (C)藤井 大樹