Label: Biophilia Records, 2021
Personnel - Adam O’Farrill: trumpet; Xavier Del Castillo: tenor saxophone; Walter Stinson: bass; Zack O’Farrill: drums.
Hailed by many as one of the most compelling and adaptable contemporary jazz trumpets of our times, Adam O’Farrill is found in his prime on Visions of Your Other, his third album at the helm of his quartet Stranger Days and the second on the Biophilia Records.
This album pairs him with the group’s regular rhythm team - bassist Walter Stinson and brother drummer Zack - as well as with s new addition: the saxophonist Xavier Del Castillo, who replaced Chad Lefkowitz-Brown in the frontline.
The opening number, “Stakra”, borrows a fragment of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s song of the same name, gliding with odd tempo in an airy, graceful delight of accomplished playing. The next piece, the Stinson-penned “Kurosawa at Berghain”, defies the previous soaring atmosphere with the right amount of swagger, displaying an antsy trumpet flying over a spasmodic rhythm that fits the bill of both alternative funk and EDM genres.
Equally intense is “Inner War”, which derived from Adam’s experience of having to bring chickens to be slaughtered while working at a farm in Maine. The trio reinforces its alliance with contrasting timbres, parallel moves, rhythmic consistency and melodic meaning. There’s a fervent statement by Del Castillo, infused with slippery rhythm figures that relocate easily in new spots. Always responsive to their surroundings, he and O’Farrill show off a suppleness with their instruments that motivates. This piece ends beautifully.
Whereas “Hopeful Heart” flows intimately in seven and aims to the senses with a soft groove, the cerebral “Blackening Skies” is awe-striking in both control and intensity, denoting nearly epic contours, striking counterpoint and agility. Adam wrote the latter peace with climate change concerns in mind.
O’Farrill puts a fresh, elegant spin on this chord-less jazz, whose emotional angles are a pleasure to discover. This new body of work is a triumphant artistic showcase of his capabilities both as a modern trumpeter and neat composer.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Stakra ► 02 - Kurosawa at Berghain ► 03 - Inner War