Label: Edition Records, 2022
Personnel - Gilad Hekselman: guitar, bass, keys; Eric Harland: drums; Shai Maestro: keys; Nomok: synth; Amir Bresceron: drums, percussion; Nathan Schram: viola, violin; Oren Hardy: bass; Alon Benjamini: percussion.
Gilad Hekselman, an outstanding guitarist born in Israel and based in New York, makes his debut on the British label Edition Records with Far Star, an album that shifts into new musical directions. The tracks comprising this work developed from ‘song demos’ accumulated in his computer due to the pandemic, and according to his own words, are about his ability to travel with his imagination.
A small number of guests are featured, one of them being the drummer Eric Harland (Charles Lloyd, Chris Potter, Dave Holland), who lays down a sort of Afrobeat vibe on the opening track, “Long Way From Home”. Employing a whistled simple melody as a starting point, this piece is impeccably layered with a frisky bass pulse and a particular guitar sound that seems to draw from country jazz. Hekselman’s improvisation is modern and catchy, and the atmosphere reaches an epic, cinematic climax before resting on the triple time drumming of Harland. The latter is equally outstanding in the following “Fast Moving Century”, a sequence of collages where electronica and underground hip-hop influences are burned through until the more rock-inclined denouement. Besides the drum swells amplifying the picture, there’s also the mutable keyboard work of Shai Maestro.
“I Didn’t Know” is an acoustic dreamscape that unfolds with a nice melody over a smooth underpinning, whereas the title track chooses melancholic notes to build a poignant narrative. The strings of Nathan Schram gives it a touch, together with the Brazilian rhythm that appears halfway, fruit of the bass and percussion of Oren Hardy and Elon Benjamin, respectively.
The second half of the record is very strong, and the variety of sounds is not by chance, emerging organically and stirring emotional hues that make us want to discover more. This is the case with “Magic Chord”, a riff-centered piece delivered with a polyrhythmic feel and a propensity for fusion; and “Rebirth”, a beautifully cooked recipe that mystifies with sonic details and the cutting-edge rhythm engendered by Israeli drummer Ziv Ravitz in his single appearance on the album. Also, “The Headrocker”, a soulful blues-rock-meets-jazz number, thrives with the participation of keyboardist Nomok and drummer Amir Bresceron.
The music on Far Star is more than soloing or showing off technical skills. It’s a kaleidoscopic journey into the creative mind of Hekselman, whose highly contemporary vision is executed with expertise and the valuable support from his peers.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Long Way From Home ► 07 - The Headrocker ► 08 - Rebirth