actually...6 stars!
author: jazzgroovo
wonderful album, great interplay between top class musicians who master technique and musicality, freedom and groove.
I love this kind of 'dark mood'wich flutters over these beautiful compositions, something that reminds me of other albums and artists like 'the book of flame' of michael manring, 'bright size life', 'paris blues' of steve lacy and gil evans, joel newton, bruce dunlap, the dig trio ecc.
we need more stuff like this!!
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Musical colors branch through dynamic melody, texture and a musically mathmatica
author: Stephen'Breeze'Smith
Mastaneh's writing feels like a comfort zone of moving melodies, yet reflects a sense of humor bringing just the right edge for my ears to swing and fly from branch to branch throughout her Kafka Pony tree. Band mates Jonathan and Paul are textural, colorful and expressive as they wrap their sensitive musicality around Nazrian's music. A must-have for guitar trio enthusiasts.
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A journey to a mysterious and wonderful world!
author: Leo McFadden
To write a short review of this CD would be a difficult task. Even when one avoids listing the many superlatives that come to mind after listening (and beautiful highlights from each track) there is a compelling need to define, or at least attempt to define the feeling that is experienced, at least by this reviewer, upon hearing the album as a whole. It is at once one of melancholic longing and transcendent joy- all filtered through Mastaneh Nazarian’s wry compositional voice.
Whilst certain pieces can be referenced as influenced compositionally by some of the modern greats in the improvised guitar world (Allan Holdsworth, Bill Frisell, and John Scofield), an angular melodicism pervades that is unique to Nazarian.
The ensemble playing on this album is also noteworthy as are the individual performances of all three musicians.
Beautifully recorded, engineered and mastered by the band's drummer, Paul Tavenner, this album is one which I get a little more from every time I re-visit it.
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A must have for Jazz/Fusion lovers
author: Erik Millett
This CD is one of the best independent Jazz/Fusion releases I have heard in a long time. Tonally reminiscent of early Metheny/Pastorius collaborations with more structural freedom, each instrument provides a solid presence while leaving plenty of room for each other. While each track is a gem, my ear especially gravitates to "Samba a la Warsaw" and "Side On."
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