Label: Out of Your Head Records, 2023
Personnel - Matt Mitchell: piano, composition; Kate Gentile: drums, percussion (CD1- #1-12); Ches Smith: drums, glockenspiel, gongs, percussion, tam-tam, vibraphone, timpani (CD2, #1-12).
Forward-looking American pianist Matt Mitchell interprets his hyper-complex, turn-on-a-dime compositions alongside two drummers of his preference: Kate Gentile, his co-conspirator in the project Snark Horse, and Ches Smith, one of the most respected bandleaders and in-demand musicians in contemporary jazz. Giving a rich texture to the duo format, Mitchell splits Oblong Aplomb into two discs, each of them featuring 12 tracks that take us to unexpected places.
The first CD - with Gentile on the drum kit - kicks off with “All Imoderation”, a puzzling, highly concentrated piano/drums piece that joins a unique bounce to a crackling and revelatory emotion. It might suggest otherwise, but the music is very well oriented in its inner convolution. Always with counterpoint and polyrhythm in mind, Mitchell explores with odd meter, transforming each and every transition and variation into a rugged epiphany.
Gentile’s percussive adeptness is astounding on “Escalatory Chicanery”, responding to the stresses, acceleration and retardation of Mitchell’s fleet fingers. The turbulent “Slarm Biffle” contains frenetic motions, ample expansions and tight contractions within sections that toggle between playful and dramatic. This mind-boggling rhythmic precision can also be vouched on “Giggle Trigger”. In contrast, “Oneiric Argot” diffuses dreamy tones, anchored with a more subdued yet no less tractable drumming in response to Mitchell’s metrical intricacies.
The CD2 has Smith adding more instrumental color with vibraphone and glockenspiel, and begins with the broad scope of “The Amused”, where the bass movement created on the left side of the keyboard is stimulating. Open to scintillating frictions, “Chiasma” creates harmonic puzzlement while advancing with irregular steps. “Full Koala” has an alternative rock inclination, whereas “Doleful”, “Labile” and “Numen” are permeated with Smith’s mallet work and harmonic coloration.
Both “Correctly Profane” and “Inveiglers” are ushered by stop-start motions and staccatos, but if the former incurs in abrupt changes in rhythm, the latter is infused with supersonic piano runs.
This music is dense and demanding but those who make the commitment to really listen to what’s going on will be rewarded. Having said that, it’s also great to close your eyes, let it go, and simply enjoy these amazing sounds.
Favorite Tracks:
01 (CD1) - All Immoderation ► 03 (CD1) - Escalatory Chicanery ► 02 - Chiasma (CD2) ► 07 (CD2) - Correctly Profane