Label: Blue Note Records, 2024
Personnel - Aaron Parks: piano; Greg Tuohey: guitar; David Ginyard Jr.: bass; Jongkuk Kim: drums.
The third installment of pianist and composer Aaron Parks’s Little Big quartet has arrived, featuring nine original compositions—five by Parks, three by guitarist Greg Tuhoey, and one by bassist David Ginyard, Jr. The group is rounded out by South Korean drummer Jonkuk Kim, who replaces Tommy Crane. There’s a strong sense of identity within the band, as they explore cohesive moods where jazz tradition seamlessly merges with contemporary sounds. At times, however, Little Big III feels a bit restrained, as if the group is holding back, casting a tentative, incantatory spell rather than delivering consistently memorable moments.
That said, the album has a promising start, with Parks’ “Flyways” launching the listener on an exhilarating journey through space. The pianist’s insistent chords throughout this boldly asymmetric piece—built on additive 10+9 beat cycles—enjoys positive contrast from Tuohey’s outgoing guitar work. Also from Parks, “Locked Down” and “Heart Stories” both lean into balladic storytelling, with the former infusing more elements of interest—in a fine blend of strange mystery and sweet resignation—than the latter, which, despite its melodic and harmonic poignancy, lacks spark.
Tuohey’s “Sports” gets underway with a 24-beat bass groove underpinning a gorgeous melody that hints at African inspiration. Park’s solo here is the warmest of company, while Tuohey’s could be further expanded. The funk-rock energy produced by bass and drums gets us quickly hooked, but the guitarist has other compositional offerings, spreading waves of Americana on his “Willamina”. Ginyard Jr. contributes “Little Beginnings”, bringing a fusion of smooth jazz and R&B with a peculiar bluesy feel. Stylist and fresh, it features a regenerative piano cycle, syncopated drumming, snappy bass lines, and a guitar solo tinged with a high-pitched, flute-like effect.
The album concludes with Parks’ “Ashé”, a spacey, delicately brushed tune first recorded in 2007 and included on Terence Blanchard’s A Tale of God’s Will. Here, it’s infused with an added layer of dreamlike sensitivity, bringing the album to a fitting close that resonates with both nostalgia and quiet wonder.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Flyways ► 02 - Locked Down ► 04 - Sports