Label: Red Piano Records

Personnel - Frank Carlberg: piano, Fender Rhodes; Hery Paz: tenor saxophone; Leo Genovese: Hammond B3, Farfisa organ, synths; John Hébert: bass; Dan Weiss: drums.

Frank Carlberg, a Finnish jazz pianist and composer of remarkable talent, unveils Dream Machine, a stellar album that encapsulates his unique ability to unify diverse musical elements into a cohesive whole. Continuing to expand the boundaries of his art form, Carlberg assembles a sensational new quintet of New York-based artists featuring the breathtaking Cuban-born saxophonist Hery Paz, the sublime Argentine keyboardist Leo Genovese, the steadfast French bassist John Hébert, and the enlightened American drummer Dan Weiss.

Among the album’s 13 compositions, four are ‘Dream’ pieces, inspired by literature, cinema, magic shows, and other artistic experiences. Fueling creativity and discovery, “Dream I” thrives on conscious pulsation and spatial glitches, while “Dream II” embraces a freer, improvisatory nature. “Dream III” surges with invigorating thrust and robust tenor saxophone playing.

Paz, an authority on tenor saxophone, demonstrates an impeccable command of every note he plays. He shines in “The Jester”, a motif-driven piece delivered with melodic accentuation, humor, and rhythmic agility, where his interplay with Carlberg and Genovese is nothing short of immaculate. He also excels on “Reconstruction”, igniting powerful bursts of sound in an avant-garde jazz setting that emerges from an initial swinging momentum set by bass and drums. Genovese contributes a fusion-leaning solo, complemented by Carlberg’s intuitive piano accompaniment. Weiss takes the spotlight with an unaccompanied improvisation before the theme’s return, infused with Monk-like angularity.

Inspired by the dreams, anxieties, and thoughts of David Zimmer—the protagonist of Paul Auster’s The Book of Illusions—“Zimmer’s Dream” is pure modern creativity highlighted by outstanding saxophone and drums. Weiss uses brushes and drumsticks in the exquisite post-bop-meets-gospel “Into the Sunset”, scraping tones off the drum surfaces with finesse, while Hébert early infuses “Nostalgia” with his bass meditations before calm sax-piano unisons emerge. “Search and Rescue” showcases superior interplay, segueing into “Light Matter”, a no-friction idea that gradually intensifies, exploring the limits.

A testament to Carlberg’s prowess as a composer and arranger, Dream Machine brims with thrilling, virtuosic moments—both in individual improvisations and the collective synergy of the ensemble. It stands as one of his finest works in years.

Favorite Tracks:
03 - The Jester ► 05 - Dream II ► 06 - Reconstruction ► 09 - Zimmer’s Dream

Label: Sunnyside Records, 2024

Personnel - Frank Carlberg: conduction, composition; David Adewumi: trumpet; Sam Hoyt: trumpet; John Carlson: trumpet; Kirk Knuffke: cornet; Brian Drye: trombone; Chris Washburne: trombone; Tyler Bonilla: trombone; Max Seigel: bass trombone; Nathan Reising: alto sax; Jeremy Udden: alto sax, lyricon; Adam Kolker: tenor sax, flute; Hery Paz: tenor sax, clarinet; Andrew Hadro: baritone sax, bass clarinet, flute; Leo Genovese: piano, keyboards; Kim Cass: bass; Micheal Sarin: drums; Christine Correa: voice (#1,3,4); Priya Carlberg: voice (#2,3,4).

Striking a lush, harmonious balance between each tune, Frank Carlberg's new orchestral venture pays homage to Monk's legacy while showcasing his own creative stamp. The album features seven original compositions, skillfully layered by a talented group of musicians and improvisers.

“Spooky Rift We Pat” opens the album with mystery and a dark smudgy tone, featuring vocalist Christine Correa. Subsequently, it transitions into a dynamic get-up-and-go that combines the standard “Tea For Two” and Monk’s “Skippy”, juxtaposed in its sung and instrumental forms, respectively. With the horn players delivering luxuriantly composed lines, the central stage is reserved for soloists, namely tenor saxophonist Adam Kolker and trumpeter David Adewumi.

Operating within a riff-heavy frame, “Out of Steam” is based on “Locomotion”, and despite its title, never slows down in its intervallic defiance and intensive layered exploration, featuring Frank's daughter, Priya Carlberg, on vocals. Less exuberant, “Elegy For Thelonious” is a beautiful composition where Correa recites a poem by Yusef Komunyakaa and infuses "Abide with Me" with a rock posture. Trombonist Bryan Drye, cornetist Kirk Knuffke, and Lyricon player Jeremy Udden deliver captivating solos on this track.

Favoring an aesthetic informed by experimental streaks, the invertebrate “Scallop’s Scallop” is an avant-jazz foray that serves Knuffke’s improvisational facility and ingenuity. In a similar fashion, the contrapuntal “Wrinkle on Trinkle” features a catchy alto solo by Udden, bending and twisting to the point of abstraction while a dissimulated funky rhythm defines the groundwork. The album closes with “Brake Tune” (an allusion to “Break’s Sake”) is introduced by Hery Paz's severe tenor discourse, but ends up in a playful mode, enclosing deft rhythm manipulation, a noticeable synth venture by Leo Genovese, and unabashed counterpoint.

Overall, the album highlights Carlberg’s orchestration capabilities and the quality of his compositions. The positive result is a consequence of the masterful execution by the talented players on this recording.

Favorite Tracks:
04 - Elegy For Thelonious ► 05 - Scallop’s Scallop ► 06 - Wrinkle on Trinkle