Customer Reviews

Ancient Kings

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

David Friesen's musical conception just keeps getting better as he develops. This is a strong effort from a special kind of trio. With the combination of bass, trumpet (or is it flugelhorn?) and percussion there is an open spacious quality to the music that keeps it alive and jumping. The air of mystery comes at least in part from Airto Moreira's sensitive percussion work and its a great concept. This was my first introduction to the trumpet work of Gary Barone and he is very impressive. He clearly has the "chops" but like his compatriots, no one is trying to overplay on this album. There is an honesty that is musically rewarding and refreshing for this listener. As always, David Friesen is a bassist worth listening to. Highly recommended.

As a musician who has dipped his toes into ambient streams (when will SOMEBODY issue David's "Heart To Heart" duet album with Paul Horn on CD, or the two albums with John Stowell?) this is music with a lot of space for playing, and for the listener to inject him or herself into. Part of that is David's Oregon bass, part of it the ECM style reverb that bathes the instruments, but predominantly it is the spacious musical conception. This is trio music in the mode of the Bill Evans trio with Scott LeFaro and Paul Motian; everyone gets their licks, all are equal musical partners who LISTEN to each other. That being said, I find Airto's contributions to this CD very special, and what ultimately elevates this CD from a 4 star into a 5 star CD. Highly recommended.