Home » Jazz Articles » Multiple Reviews » Nouveau Fusion: Superette And Visitors
Nouveau Fusion: Superette And Visitors
ByChris Lightcap
Superette
Royal Potato Family
2018
Electric guitars rippling gracefully in time with kinetic drumwork accented by flourishes of (the leader's) bass, Superette is as dynamic as it is dramatic, directly reflecting the various and sundry prior projects of Lightcap and his collaborators, including, at selected junctures, guitarist Nels Cline and keyboardist John Medeski; a distinct distillation of those stylistic approaches, the resulting density nevertheless allows for ample space. Radiating the logic of a well-constructed performance transferred to a superior album, the progression of Superette through eight originals and three covers (including tunes from Link Wray and the late Skip Spence of Moby Grape), concludes on the wistful but majestic note of Neil Young's "Birds:" it's a fitting end to one sustained moment of collective inspiration.
JP Schlegelmilch, Jonathan Goldberger & Jim Black
Visitors
Skirl Records
2018
Perhaps because there is but a single guitar on Visitors-the versatile and ever resourceful guitarist and composer Jonathan Goldberger is the common denominator between the two records-the dissonance that ever-so-lightly leavens its companion piece is slightly more prevalent. Titular leader and keyboardist JP Schlegelmilch supplies most of it, albeit in the most understated fashion, conjuring atmosphere further enhanced by this stereo audio mix (even featuring some acoustic guitar on "Lake Oblivion II"). Crescendos like those opening the album on its titlesong evince more than just a hint of swing, while the synchrony of the band is just as evident during improvisational intervals. Over the course of eight tracks in the four-to-seven minute range, Visitors carries an impact both visceral and cerebral.
Tracks and Personnel
Superette
Tracks: Selector; She Walked In; Far Away Planet; While You Were Out; Djali; Calling On Cars; Ace Of Spades; Light Trails; All Come To Meet Her; Frozen Bread; Birds.
Personnel: Personnel: Chris Lightcap: bass guitar; Jonathan Goldberger: guitar; Curtis Hasselbring: guitar; Dan Rieser: drums; Nels Cline: electric guitar, lap steel; John Medeski: organ.
Visitors
Tracks: Visitors; Chiseler; Ether Sun; Corvus; Lake Oblivion I; Lake Oblivion II; Terminal Waves; Island.
Personnel: JP Schlegelmilch: organ, keyboards; Jonathan Goldberger: guitar: Jim Black: drums.
< Previous
Celebrate songwriters Abbey Lincoln a...
Next >
#awesome
Comments
Tags
Multiple Reviews
Doug Collette
Calabro Music
Royal Potato Family #1
Nels Cline
John Medeski
Neil Young
Skirl Records
Concerts
May
2
Thu