Label: Imani Records, 2023
Personnel - Caleb Wheeler Curtis: stritch, trumpet, reed trumpet; Noah Garabedian: acoustic bass; Vincent Sperrazza: drums.
Ember is an adventurous Brooklyn-based trio of forward-thinking leaders, composers and improvisers who possess the right technique and the will to make music that, while aesthetically gratifying, is far from predictable. For their third album, August in March, all three musicians - Caleb Wheeler Curtis on stritch (a curveless alto saxophone), trumpet and reed trumpet; Noah Garabedian on acoustic bass; Vincent Sperrazza on drums - contribute original compositions that are musically seamless, fully integrated and cleverly sequenced. There’s also a short collective improvisation.
Curtis’ “Suspense” doesn’t make a killing entrance but a confident and agreeable one. There’s mallets for a deeper sound, directional bass strums and soft pizzicato work that hold everything together, and pensive saxophone deliberations that wrap its lushness around the rhythm section. Folk intonations are present in a tune that has no rush but no sluggishness either. On his “Sink and Swim”, the saxophonist speaks clearly, adopting a Coltranean idiom that opposes the initial trumpet wistfulness that navigates the sober background. Garabedian provides an expert combination of accompaniment and interaction.
The remaining Curtis’ compositions are “Flotation Device and the Shivers”, which comes with an economic elegance of approach via controlled pounding accents and moaning saxophone expression; and the viscerally playful “Break Tune”, where we find quick-witted melodic fragments and lively talking drums.
Garabedian’s “Snake Tune” makes some modal inflections in its swinging motion. The trumpet evokes Eastern landscapes and there’s a sharp bass solo supported by the saxophonist, whose notes are intended to provide harmonic context. Also penned by Garabedian, the title track takes the form of an intriguing conversation that begins with arco bass and saxophone in total agreement. They are backed by Sperraza’s creative cymbal work and serviceable brushed snare.
The drummer’s sound world is rich in color and timbre, and his diverse original pieces show exactly that. “Frank in the Morning” has a massive tone of rock flow that can also be heard on “Angular Saxon”, where Braxton-esque avant-jazz hooks are grafted onto the punchy rhythm. Constantly stretching himself, Curtis shines in both pieces with bold statements loaded with inside/outside magnificence and poetic expression. Sperrazza is also the composer of the R&B-ish final track, “Sam Cooke”, which is a tribute to the soul music artist in the title.
Ember shows highly creative instincts that will serve listeners itching to be challenged.
Favorite Tracks:
02 - Snake Tune ► 03 - Frank in the Morning ► 05 - Angular Saxon