Ascensio

• Artist: Bruno Raberg
• Rating:
• Release Date: November 30, 2004
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Swedish bassist/clinician Bruno Raberg's fourth release features his quartet of primarily Boston, MA-based musicians. Here, the band hovers within the mainstream jazz side of things, while frequently venturing toward the outside. They explore hard bop, featuring Raberg's monstrous walking basslines and drummer Marcello Pellitteri's swirling rhythms, on the piece titled "Maya." Trumpeter Phil Grenadier and saxophonist Allan Chase generally execute beaming unison choruses coupled with fiery soloing escapades throughout many of these works, as they consistently rephrase previously rendered themes. The quartet occasionally ventures into the free zone, brimming with forceful rhythmic movements and a tempestuous front-line attack. Essentially, they tear it up more often than not. Raberg and his musical associates also meld odd-metered time signatures and memorably melodic melodies into the program. Hence, the musicians explore the best of both worlds as the artists maintain a buoyant groove throughout this undeniably electrifying set. A top pick for 2003. ~ Glenn Astarita, Rovi

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