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Scot Ray Quintet: Active Vapor Recovery
ByThe disc goes full-throttle for the most part, with some solid grooves matched with accessibility. Some funk, some loud avant jazz; and also some wandering sonic introspection.
The third tune, "Shiny Object," cooks with electric heat, Nels Cline's guitar simmering behind the front line trombone and violin interplay. "In Cleveland" almost sounds like 'In Detroit,' a trombone/guitar Motown sound...or on second thought, more like a James Brown groove, slashing chords, driving brass.
"Man With Kite" is the highlight, a ten minute mini-symphony opening with a wandering trombone and violin unison line, the rhythm section eventually gelling into a liquid groove. "Bitterroot," the closer, is a relaxed back porch moan that evokes wide open skies at dusk, a waning day holding hope for the future.
The odd instrumental mix here works beautifully on the hard driving barn burners and slower, more introspective pieces too.
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Track Listing
Three Quarks, Above Breath, Shiny Object, In Cleveland, Man as Kite, Scarabaeus, Trouble with Sugar, Active Vapor Recovery, Bitteroot
Personnel
Scot Ray, trombone; Jeff Gauthier, electric violin; Nels Cline, electric guitar; Steuart Liebig, contrabassguitars; Alex Cline, drums, percussion
Album information
Title: Active Vapor Recovery | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Cryptogramophone