2013-10-28
Outer Bridge Ensemble is a quartet out of New York. The latest release, Determined, is full of original contemporary jazz. The album starts out with the mildly funky title track. The second song, "Galactic Diamonds", is quiet and its fluctuating rhythmic meter makes it one of the more interesting pieces here. The band flexes its muscle, showing off its two percussionists on third track, "Salute". This piece is upbeat, afro-latin jazz and is easily the best track on the album. The band then slows it down for the mild "At Ease". For the rest of the album, the ensemble never gets it going again, settling into a slow to mid-tempo groove to finish it out. Last track, "Homage to Freedom", however, tries to get the groove back with its cowbell before going into a middle of piano and sax noodling fronting an increased tempo on the drum kit. All in all, this is decent contemporary jazz.
Rebecca Ruth
MICROSCOPIC SEPTET
Friday the 13th The Micros Play Monk
JACK DEJONETTE AND BILL FRISELL
The Elephant Sleeps But Still Remembers
Azar Lawrence & Al Mclean
Frontiers
ROBERTO FONSECA
Akokan
Laurence Hobgood Trio
Honor Thy Fathers
Branford Marsallis
Metamorphosen
The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.