Matt Davis' Aerial Photograph starts out this typically diverse group of recordings. On 'Before the Stars Burn Out' (Vandolah Sounds 2264), the leader is responsible for guitar, programming, and piano sounding board. His guests on these tracks include a wide array of instrumentalists (Carlos Santaigo, vln; Diana Brown, vln; Meg Kajino, vln; Diane Monroe, vln; George Burton, vla; Matt Roberts, cel; Amy Christmas, cl; Jason O'Mara, flt; Bart Miltenberger, flgh; Jon Thompson, ts & ss; Brent White, tbn; Mike Taylor, b; Brian Weostehoff, ts; Wayne Smith, dr; Ben Schachter, ts) who provide nuance, texture, and the occasional hot solo to this heavily electronic music. There are lots of found sounds and recordings, but just as often one hears Davis' acoustic (sounding like mid 70's Towner in places) set against electronic backdrops as well as against moving blocks of chords from layered saxophones. On tunes like "These Are Whispers" or the melancholy "Song For Kate", there are simple lilting lines with often very thoughtful arrangements, sounding almost like pop extractions of Frisell's mid-90's quartet. The laconic feel is often attractive, with good contributions from Schacter, Thompson, Miltenberger, and others. Sometimes the tender arpeggiating gets a bit repetitive, but there's usually some chewy string section just around the corner. For fans of neo-Americana and similar strains of improvisation.
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This is a genre-bending endeavor from guitarist Matt Davis and his ensemble. "The Market" starts the album off with inflating and deflating runs of Spanish mode and is followed by the incessant count of "Timing Out", with its repeated horn phrases and violin lines. On "These Are Whispers", Mr. Davis' guitar appears like a searchlight casting out from fog of horns and drums finally making an appearance on this album about four and a half minutes into the track. "Evolution" chooses to trace itself around the guitar, building a theme one instrument at a time. This is placed at the center of the album, making it the masterpiece. Matt Davis' best playing is featured here also. After a short interlude, "Autumn", I got very into Benediction. It is the most accessible track on this album, clocking in at 3:20. As the album winds itself down, a guitar/ bass/ clarinet/ string quartet tune, "When We All Find Our Home" dies out a little prematurely. It fades into "Struggle", which is another excellent example of the themes Mr. Davis is trying to express on his album. This album is wonderful and one that plays well in the wee hours of the morning. Don't be surprised to find this at the top of my year end list.
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dreamy, eclectic, thinkie music. makes me use my brain, but not in a way that hurts too bad. yay for Matt!
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"Whatever you do, don't get caught up in the argument over whether to call it jazz; genre is a limiting concept, after all, and useful only for record store clerks. Guitarist Matt Davis' lovely new independently released CD floats between categories with effortless grace. Attempts at fusing styles often end more in collision than fusion, but there is no tension, no clash in Davis' combination of string quartet with jazz musicians. The Metheny-ish chamber jazz of "These Are Whispers," which serves as a foundation for a limber and inventive Davis solo, suddenly becomes a slow blues shuffle for Jon Thompson's wistful soprano. "Song for Kate" kicks off as Appalachian bop before granting the strings some space for a solo dance, and finally halting for Thompson and Davis to flit around each other like butterflies. The keyword here is interaction, and the seemingly incongruous parts soon dissolve into a succession of fragile moments."
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