Travail, Transformation, and Flow

Steve Lehman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 9, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Pi. Recordings
• ASIN: B0027UMERS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,259 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vital, Essential Modern Jazz, March 4, 2010

By 

David Conklin (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Travail, Transformation, and Flow (Audio CD)

I fully agree with the previous reviewer's assessment; moreover, this wonderful music merits additional reviews. Terms like "spectral music" and "microtonal harmonies" have been used to describe it. Apparently Steve Lehman applied quite a bit of physics (wave mechanics) in composing it--it's heady stuff. However, you certainly don't have to be a sonic engineer to dig it. Basically, the tones and/or overtones of various instruments are judiciously combined to produce complex harmonies. But that's really only part of the story. There's also sharp, concise, hugely appealing soloing here by Lehman (alto sax), Mark Shim !! (tenor sax), and Jonathon Finlayson (trumpet). A dynamite rhythm section of Chris Dingman (vibes), Drew Gress (bass), and Tyshawn Sorey (drums). Tim Albright (trombone) and Jose Davila (tuba) fill out the octet, and are especially vital in the harmonies. The compositions (and the album as a whole) are nicely constructed, with a modern, almost 3-dimensional feel. Most importantly, the music is viscerally pleasing and great fun. Everytime I listen to this CD, I hear something new and exciting. Folks, don't miss this one!

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glass meets Coltrane, October 26, 2009

By 

Rpihawk "Rpihawk" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Travail, Transformation, and Flow (Audio CD)

What a great mesh of classical minimalism ideas with improvisional jazz. This is the most exciting music I've heard in awhile. I just keep thinking about how hard this music must be to play. There are a lot of time changes, tight playing, and great improvisional areas all within one song. Really good stuff.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just a Hear! Hear! for the other reviewers and for Mr. Lehman, May 9, 2010

By 

greg taylor (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Travail, Transformation, and Flow (Audio CD)

This is the type of CD that makes acolytes of those who hear it. I want to spread the news about it but the first three reviewers more or less covered most of the details.
So I just want to add a few thoughts to what they had to say. First, I agree with Rpihawk's observation about the mix of minimalism and creative improv. The first thing I thought on hearing Echoes for the first time was, "michael nyman". The opening phrase is repetitive, propulsive and has nice chiming effects from Dingman's vibes. For some reason, I had never thought of minimalism as a resource for creative improv. Once you hear it though, the question becomes why hasn't it happened before.
Another point I want to make is to praise Lehman as a arranger. His use of the resources that his seven superb band mates provide him is brilliant. Harmonies unusual to creative improv, the splitting of the octet into subgroups that play off each other, the way the octet supports whoever is soloing- Lehman works with it all.
Finally, Lehman himself. I have followed his career for a while. But I think that what he does here and on his new CD with Mahanthappa (see the title to the 2nd tune on this CD) evidences a leap forward. So I leave you with this thought- listen to this CD, listen to the new one with Mahanthappa (I promise a review soon) and see if you don't agree. Lehman is becoming a powerful and creative presence on the creative improv scene. His artistic future looms bright and we listeners just might be in for some serious fun.