Label: Nonesuch Records, 2023
Personnel - Ambrose Akinmusire: trumpet; Bill Frisell: guitar; Herlin Riley: drums.
Trumpeter and composer Ambrose Akinmusire continues to showcase his artistry, this time with a surprising and intimate trio, featuring the remarkable talents of guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Herlin Riley. In this ensemble, Akinmusire, known for his monstrous technique and improvisational prowess, leads a group that emits light through their instruments across eight new compositions penned by Akinmusire himself. These pieces, dressed in an aesthetic that exudes warmth, serve as a reaction to the overwhelming assault of information, as explained by the bandleader.
The opening track, “Owl Song 1”, sets the tone with absolute lyricism, incorporating delicate trumpet melodicism, a wonderful textural tapestry weaved by Frisell (he combines single-note expression and chordal color like no one), and a soaring groove with a conspicuous kick drum beat. “Weighted Corners” features a pleasantly shimmering collage of two fingerpicked guitars and thematic trumpet lines, creating a relaxed 4/4 pacing with soft hand percussion.
To the gently tribalistic rhythm of “Flux Fuelings”, add Frisell’s brilliant guitar work on the lower registers for an enigmatic touch, and Akinmusire’s long high-pitched notes soaring above, and you have a nicely contrasting piece with a distinct identity. The intensity eases on the following track, “Grace”, where the trio, showcasing a perfect understanding of space and texture, sports precise unison intervals over deep drum sounds.
Akinmusire pays personal tributes to his collaborators in heavenly dramatic duets: “Mr. Frisell’’ features the guitarist guaranteeing an airy pulse while delivering rippling melodic fluxes jointly with the trumpeter; “Mr. Riley” plays like a New Orleans march intensified by well-placed trumpet accents. Despite recording together for the first time, the trio demonstrates an innate understanding of each other’s playing, evident in the ambient-inclined “Henya”, which closes the album as a prayerful rubato lament. Looped guitar, poignant yet wide-ranging trumpet, and scintillating drumwork lead us to a definitive heartbeat, reaffirming we’re alive.
Owl Song is an enjoyable, refreshingly accessible, and fundamentally peaceful work from a trailblazing trumpeter in excellent form. Eschewing formulaic patterns, this outstanding outfit is blessed with inspiration, communication, and exploration. What more could one ask for to close 2023 in big?
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Owl Song 1 ► 03 - Flux Fuelings ► 04 - Grace