CD Reviews: Liberty Ellman “Ophiuchus Butterfly” CD-2006 PI Recordings
|
Posted by: adminon Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 08:48 AM |
|
By Glenn Astarita
Guitarist/composer Liberty Ellman second release for this record label conveys extensions of his vibrant, multi-tiered compositional style. Nonetheless, he’s an astute conceptualist, where motifs bounce in linear and diminutive fashion atop pliant bass, tuba and drums initiated rhythmic foundations. At times introspective and teeming with contrapuntal type contrasts, the guitarist’s methodology also includes complex unison runs amid saxophonists’ Steve Lehman and Mark Shim’s rapidly-paced choruses. On “Pretty Words, Like Blades,” Ellman concocts a layered thematic foray along with a world-beat percussion groove.
And with “Chromos,” the ensemble gleefully enters the free-zone, to complement drummer Gerald Cleaver’s staggered backbeats. Again, Ellman uses contrasting tonalities and snaky motifs as a two-fold mechanism, where colorific movements complement intense group-based interplay. In sum, he’s a crafty composer who seemingly morphs numerous musical influences into a distinct sound and style. As a guitarist, his solos are nicely-defined while adhering to the respective opuses, where he embellishes or reworks a given melody line. – Glenn Astarita
Liberty Ellman: guitar, synthesizer, sampler; Steve Lehman: alto saxophone; Mark Shim: tenor saxophone; Jose Davila: tuba; Stephan Crump: acoustic bass; Gerald Cleaver: drums
|
|
/images/spacer.gif) |
| |
|
