JACOB YOUNG – Forever Young
ECM 376 8896
Jacob Young (guitars); Trygve Seim (tenor & soprano saxophones); Marcin Wasilewski (piano); Slawomir Kurkiewicz (double bass); Michal Miskiewicz (drums)
Recorded August 2013
An album and group born of fortuitous circumstances or perhaps even fate, this is Jacob Young’s third release on ECM, and the ease in which the quintet bring the guitarist’s compositions to life is a sure sign that the resulting music was meant to be.
A chance encounter at the Oslo Jazz Festival in 2012 found Marcin Wasilewski staying with Trygve Seim where he came across some of music of Young’s on the piano. Naturally enough Wasilewski and Seim played through some of the tunes and the pianist found them enjoyable enough to wish to pursue the music further. When Seim mentioned the idea to Manfred Eicher the momentum started to roll and the quintet was formed. The result is almost an amalgamation of two separate groups, as the Marcin Wasileswki Trio have been active for a number of years, having recorded for ECM as a self-contained unit and also as part of the Tomasz Stanko Quartet, whilst Seim and Young play occasionally as a duo.
The music has a predominantly light and lyrical feel, with the opening tracks ‘I Lost My Heart To You’ and ‘Therese’s Gate’ having a gentle and wistful air about them; and call to mind the lyricism and vibe of Pat Metheny’s 1977 ECM set, Water Colours. Everything is reigned in and tight even on the exuberantly titled ‘Bounce’, with a finely spun solo from the leader, there is a sense of calm and order inherent in the music.
Variety, however is abound in this absorbing set, and as the quintet work through Young’s compositions there is the sense of a group identity already. The rhythmically melodic intro from Michel Miskiewicz propels us into ‘Sophia’s Dance’ with Trygve Seim’s solo, this time on soprano saxophone, quietly building in intensity over the drummers rolling patterns leading into Marcin’s piano solo.
Adding a bit of extra clout and a touch of menace is ‘1970’ (the year the guitarist was born) moves with an insistent swagger and a lyrical solo from Young on electric guitar. Always one to have an interesting turn of phrase, ‘Time Changes’ is allowed to develop over nine and a half minutes providing an excellent theme and a solid platform for the soloists.
With Young playing material from the album in concerts both in Europe and the US over the coming months, this is a group that will only improve with time, and I for one hope that they can stay together as a unit and carry on the work begun here.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
ECM 376 8896
Jacob Young (guitars); Trygve Seim (tenor & soprano saxophones); Marcin Wasilewski (piano); Slawomir Kurkiewicz (double bass); Michal Miskiewicz (drums)
Recorded August 2013
An album and group born of fortuitous circumstances or perhaps even fate, this is Jacob Young’s third release on ECM, and the ease in which the quintet bring the guitarist’s compositions to life is a sure sign that the resulting music was meant to be.
A chance encounter at the Oslo Jazz Festival in 2012 found Marcin Wasilewski staying with Trygve Seim where he came across some of music of Young’s on the piano. Naturally enough Wasilewski and Seim played through some of the tunes and the pianist found them enjoyable enough to wish to pursue the music further. When Seim mentioned the idea to Manfred Eicher the momentum started to roll and the quintet was formed. The result is almost an amalgamation of two separate groups, as the Marcin Wasileswki Trio have been active for a number of years, having recorded for ECM as a self-contained unit and also as part of the Tomasz Stanko Quartet, whilst Seim and Young play occasionally as a duo.
The music has a predominantly light and lyrical feel, with the opening tracks ‘I Lost My Heart To You’ and ‘Therese’s Gate’ having a gentle and wistful air about them; and call to mind the lyricism and vibe of Pat Metheny’s 1977 ECM set, Water Colours. Everything is reigned in and tight even on the exuberantly titled ‘Bounce’, with a finely spun solo from the leader, there is a sense of calm and order inherent in the music.
Variety, however is abound in this absorbing set, and as the quintet work through Young’s compositions there is the sense of a group identity already. The rhythmically melodic intro from Michel Miskiewicz propels us into ‘Sophia’s Dance’ with Trygve Seim’s solo, this time on soprano saxophone, quietly building in intensity over the drummers rolling patterns leading into Marcin’s piano solo.
Adding a bit of extra clout and a touch of menace is ‘1970’ (the year the guitarist was born) moves with an insistent swagger and a lyrical solo from Young on electric guitar. Always one to have an interesting turn of phrase, ‘Time Changes’ is allowed to develop over nine and a half minutes providing an excellent theme and a solid platform for the soloists.
With Young playing material from the album in concerts both in Europe and the US over the coming months, this is a group that will only improve with time, and I for one hope that they can stay together as a unit and carry on the work begun here.
Reviewed by Nick Lea