Kurt Rosenwinkel: Heartcore

Rosenwinkel gets to the heart of the matter on the title track with a fusion-laced beat. He plays around the tempo of a funky drum machine with a deep bass pattern. Mark Turner's saxophone blasts high notes that help carry the track. The conclusion winds up truly melodious and pensive. "All the Way to Rajasthan" begins with an echoing pluck of the bass by Ben Street and the band chiming in. With a soft, rhythmic pace, the melody becomes almost trance-like. Rosenwinkel displays a penchant for harmony and the keyboard overlay has a haunting sound that accents the guitarist's circuitous melody. A pensive, but electric "Interlude" is a beautiful piece: three minutes of cosmic relaxation.

Overall, Heartcore is an electric, upbeat venture. As with any disc, there are peaks and valleys, the peaks aforementioned and the valleys less dramatic. Clearly, the band is well-chosen for Rosenwinkel's purpose. And, if Heartcore's purpose is to excite and then calm the listener, its goal was accomplished successfully.

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