Label: Artwork Records, 2024
Personnel - Micah Thomas: piano; Immanuel Wilkins: alto saxophone; Nicole Glover: tenor saxophone; Adam O’Farrill: trumpet; Caleb Smith: trombone; Kanoa Mendenhall: bass; Kweku Sumbry: drums.
After capturing the public’s attention with his trio albums Tide (2020) and Reveal (2023), as well as his solo effort Solo Piano (2022), pianist Micah Thomas has now ventured into composing for a large ensemble for the first time. The result is Mountains, a live recording from The Jazz Gallery in New York in 2023, featuring 11 tracks that strike a fine balance between structure and freedom—sure to appeal to fans of both contemporary mainstream and avant-garde jazz. The album’s complex charts traverse a range of ambiances, demanding both precision and adaptability from its players.
“Life” starts the proceedings in a lushly orchestrated trade: the four-horn frontline commands attention while the rhythm section weaves an opaque rhythmic flow. Thomas’ solo, denoting motivic and modern classical predispositions, is separated from tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover’s chanting statement through a section packed with unison lines. That’s before a groovy vamp hits us with shades of Latin. The next piece, “Processing”, presents a stratospheric swinging outline reminiscent of George Russell, mixing traditional and avant-jazz currents while melodically pushing in different directions. It sounds just great.
“Lament” highlights trumpeter Adam O’Farrill wandering through a quiet piano landscape, his unexpected intervallic leaps creating moments of surprise as the atmosphere shifts from classical balladry to kinetic radiance. “Libre”, inspired by the duo recordings of Paco de Lucia and Camarón de la Isla, starts as a downright marching rag piece filled with charm and color, but then falls into silent mode, becoming a skimpy yet impulsive reflection. This leads seamlessly into “No Answer”, where horn melodies define a transparent harmonic progression in anticipation to that rag feel, reinstated with an arresting sense of freedom. Alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins stands out here with a fearful, visceral, and throaty solo over an unorthodox texture.
Wilkins and O’Farrill dialogue on the vibrant “The Mountain, spreading thoughtful observation over Kanoa Mendenhall’s funky bass strut and Kweko Sumbry’s steamy cymbal environment and punchy kick drum patterns. “Nomad” combines a cool vibe with rhythmic effervescence, featuring engaging exchanges between sax and trumpet, while “Collapse” is a contrapuntal cacophony that radiates energy. The session ends with “Through”, which evolves from drones and buzzes into a gradually cathartic climax.
The album’s consistent arcs of tension and release create a daring and inclusive sonic experience, showcasing the expansive scope of Thomas' compositional vision.
Favorite Tracks:
02 - Processing ► 05 - No Answer ► 07 - The Mountain