2014-03-16
Beat Music is only the second release from Mark Guiliana. That doesn't mean that he is inexperienced, though. The New York-based drummer has been a long-time side man for Avishai Cohen. He has also been known to team up with Brad Mehldau. Currently, however, he is leading a trio and his musical associates are bassist, Tim Lefebvre and keyboardist Jason Lidner. The band is outstanding, but Mark Guiliana's drumming is remarkable. It is so precise as to make one wonder if one is hearing programmed drums instead of a real kit. As far as the album, Beat Music is post-rock jazz with nary a guitar in sight. It has mesmerizing beats and plenty of electronic interplay. Each song explores a different theme through recorded vocal samples. (Unfortunately, the liner notes have left me guessing as to the origin of these samples.) Listening to this, I found myself wishing for less samples, though, as they distracted from the music. Nonetheless, I really liked this. Rebecca Ruth
CHAISE LOUNGE
Insomnia
THE CHARLES MINGUS SEXTET
Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy - Cornell 1964
THE BIG THREE TRIO
We Got Rhythm
Geoff Muldaur's Futuristic Ensemble
Private Astronomy - A Vision of the Music of Bix Beiderbecke
THE RICK HOLLAND-EVAN DOBBINS LITTLE BIG BAND
Trilby
CONRAD HERWIG
THE LATIN SIDE OF HERBIE HANCOCK
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