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Review:
Anomalous Quintet's Simple Forms
Ronald Jackson, Jazzreview.com
Musicians are
definitely a breed apart, especially...
Often, I
will read reviews by others regarding a certain artist just to see what
they took away from a given recording and compare my own views to see if
there’s any parallel. Well, the
reviews regarding Jason Newsom’s Anomalous Quintet are probably more in
sync with my own take on the group than any review has ever been. The group’s second album entitled Life on
an Oblate Spheroid was heralded by Jazzreview as
being “fresh and innovative” and “pushes the envelope of jazz to the
hilt.” This latest effort, while
maybe not pushing the envelope as forcefully, places a good, solid,
uniquely diverse spin on the genre that clearly serves as the group’s
signature in the wide world of jazz.
Everything about this recording is
solid. From drums to guitar to bass to horns (the lower register sax runs
add a distinctive touch here), it’s all simply solid. No holes through
which to peer into an empty void left by a lack of creativity or
insight. From the opening track
“Entanglement” right through to the finale “BG,” this is well-conceived
upper level material with originality punctuating every tune. Jams here are filled to the brim with
stylish runs and everything from blues to funk. The sly bluesiness
of the otherwise pretty funky, jazzed-up guitar work combined with smart
bass lines, accentuated backbeats and slick, smooth, telling horn passages
make this a quality production to the end.
I’m always seeking that artist or
group who opens my eyes, makes me truly sit up and take notice because of
their grasp on what it takes to come across as different without being
beyond recognition or common taste.
Anomalous Quintet, with Simple Forms, has that firm, unrelenting
grasp. A great deal of serious and
artistic thought went into this project, as is evidenced by explanations in
an interview conducted by another source with guitarist Newsom.
One of the things Newsom focuses on is
being able to emulate a pianist as closely as possible. He talks about the
ability of artists like guitarist Leo Kottke to
play both melody and chords at the same time (I think one might also
include the late guitar virtuoso Jimi Hendrix, as well). Also, the thought and energy that went
into the odd-timed track 5, “Shanghaied,” particularly the intro, was
absolutely awe-inspiring.
Here in its third outing, Anomalous
Quintet, as an innovative, skilled group, comfortably captures my vote.
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