Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ken Fowser & Behn Gillece: Little Echo

243

Ken Fowser & Behn Gillece: Little Echo

By

Sign in to view read count
Ken Fowser & Behn Gillece: Little Echo
If Marc Free, Nick O'Toole and the team at Posi-Tone Records continue producing albums in the same manner as they have been since the inception of the label in 1994, they will surely be further along the path to emulating the legacy of the Blue Note label, which has produced some of the finest music of our time. Little Echo, by saxophonist, Ken Fowser and vibraphonist, Behn Gillece, is a further testament to the label's determination to keep contemporary music in the jazz idiom alive. These young musicians are sublimely talented and have partnered with pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Ugonna Okegwo, and drummer Quincy Davis to produce a memorable gem of a record.

Fowser has a moist, lyrical, broad tone that lopes up and down the tenor registers like a proverbial gazelle. The young vibraphonist, mature beyond his years, is a very expressive player and possesses a bright, resonant tone. His four-mallet approach looks like Gary Burton's and Joe Locke's, but swings harder and is more bluesy—often leading to the belief that he has listened carefully not only to Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson, but also to the prodigious work of Victor Feldman. The two men swap soli with telepathy, kindling melodic fires that are fed by their astounding sense of harmonic invention. The flames of this music are fanned by the excellent Germanson's harmonic stretches, and Okegwo's rhythmic boogieing, combined with Davis' subtle rhythmic shading.

None of the music is credited on the album, but in the ultimate analysis it may not matter. Whoever was responsible for it appears to be an old soul—or souls, as the case may well be. There is a fair amount of music here to suggest strong bebop roots that go back to Howard McGhee. However, the soulful "Ninety Five" and the harmonics of "Little Echo" certainly suggest that these musicians also pay their respects to musicians like Les McCann. "Sap" is a fine exercise in modal magic. The brooding elegance of "The Dog Days" suggests that this ensemble can also swagger languidly rather than swinging energetically all the time. Fowser is excellent and forlorn throughout the opening of the piece, and Germanson is languid and beautiful beyond belief. This is a perfect vehicle for a vibraphonist, and Gillace's sublime talent is on fine display here—as is the rhythmic invention of Quincy Davis—making the song a centerpiece to what is a marvellously crafted album.

Track Listing

Resolutions; Ninety Five; Sap; The Dog Days; Vigilance; Little Echo; One Step at a Time; You; Another View.

Personnel

Ken Fowser: tenor sax; Behn Gillece: vibraphone; Rick Germanson: piano; Ugonna Okegwo: bass; Quincy Davis: drums.

Album information

Title: Little Echo | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.