Label: Elastic Recordings, 2024
Personnel - Tommy Crane: drums, composition; Charlotte Greve: alto saxophone; Simon Jermyn: bass; Edwin de Goeij: piano; Sarah Page: harp; Claire Devlin: tenor saxophone (#4); Martin Ditcham: percussion; Miller Maboungou: percussion; Mishka Stein: bass; Aaron Spicer: choir; Sterling Spicer: choir; Jones Spicer: choir.
Currently based in Montreal, drummer and composer Tommy Crane has long been a trusted collaborator for a number of esteemed jazz artists in New York—Aaron Parks, Melissa Aldana, and David Binney among them. In his latest project, Dance Music For All Occasions, Crane leads a core quartet, featuring bassist Simon Jermyn, pianist Edwin de Goeij, and saxophonist Charlotte Greve. Inspired by the smooth jazz and breezy pop/rock of the ‘70s and ‘80s—a sound his drummer father, Nolan Earl Crane, was passionate about—the album melds these influences into a laid-back yet elegantly layered sonic experience, with guest appearances enhancing the mood.
The opener, “Early 2000’s”, kicks off with a driving rhythmic pulse, its three time feel well marked by the pianist, who designs the chord progression with sheer emotion. Greve harmonize slow-moving lines that soar with sharp focus, while extra percussive layers are entrusted to percussionists Elli Miller Maboungou and Martin Ditcham (Talk Talk, Sade). The musicians work seamlessly within Crane’s vision, and on “Italian Weekend”, they evoke a lush sense of nostalgia. The track begins simply but firmly, driven by an engaging bass groove before drifting into ambient jazz, enriched by ethereal harmonies from a three-boy choir, and having Sarah Page’s harp lending discrete shading.
“DMFAO” delivers pleasant vibes, but lacks the spark to elevate its steady background. “Let’s Try This Again” takes on the feel of a relaxed 4/4 pop/rock tune, with Claire Devlin’s tenor saxophone adding a thin extra layer to the cyclic melody. “Life is So Much Better in the Lounge” shifts into smooth funk and R&B, channeling George Benson, Barry White, and Grover Washington Jr. as the music, pollinated with warm and rich details, brings out Crane's knack for subtle groove.
The short-lived yet beautiful track “A Moment of Clarity Amidst the Fog” is introspective and airy, balancing spacey piano accompaniment, sizzling brushwork, and a carefully sculpted saxophone riff. The album closes with “Amherst Ave”, a standout track that grooves effortlessly in an odd-meter cycle, conjuring the soulful, jazz-infused stylings of Makaya McCraven, Marquis Hill, and Robert Glasper.
Dance Music For All Occasions is a record of amenable tones, avoiding overly complex configurations but relying on superimposed layers to create its dreamscapes. Some tracks, charmingly pleasurable, can get under your skin, while others remain more understated, with only minimal fluctuations in mood.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Early 2000’s ► 06 - A Moment of Clarity Amidst the Fog ► 07 - Amherst Ave