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Eric Vloeimans: Umai

Eric Vloeimans: Umai

Challenge Jazz  SACHR 75061

Stereo Hybrid

Jazz


Eric Vloeimans

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All
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Recording
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DSD recording
Tracks
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Dreamland
Four Winds
Zorro
C.H.
Umai
Bradshaw
Villa Borghese
Duet #1
Summersault
Isis
Roadmovie
Intro To Requiem
Requiem
Reviews (1)
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Review by Mark Werlin - August 11, 2015

A late review of an early—and exemplary—stereo SACD jazz title.

MUSIC
The words writers use to characterize the qualities of a jazz musician's sound are often inadequate to the task, and can be misleading. There are so many contemporary trumpet players who sound more or less like Miles Davis, and so many piano trios that evoke the Bill Evans trio; comparisons to celebrated ensembles and foundational musicians may or may not be useful. Safer to say that Eric Vloeimans' compositions fall on the lyrical-romantic side of modern European jazz. Fans of Kenny Wheeler and Enrico Rava should not be disappointed by this set of tunes. Sympathetic support from a multinational rhythm section, Italian bassist Furio di Castri, British pianist John Taylor and American drummer Joe LaBarbera, highlights Vloeimans' thoughtful and economical solos. He manages not to sound exactly like any particular forebear, and this is no small accomplishment.

SOUND
"Umai" was recorded by Chris Weeda at Studio Leroy in Amsterdam, Netherlands, around the same time as he recorded Enrico Pieranunzi: Plays the Music of Wayne Shorter and Enrico Pieranunzi: Improvised Forms for Trio. It was a demonstration of the excellence that could be achieved by recording in a well-controlled studio environment in native DSD. Compared to Rainbow Studio (ECM) recordings from the same era (ca. 2000), Weeda captures a more natural sound, and doesn't have to rely on an artificially-wide drum panorama or heavy digital reverb on the horn to generate a compelling sound picture. The drums, bass, trumpet and piano are all well-positioned in the room and blend naturally into a very realistic presentation.

A generous 72 minutes of intelligent music makes this release worth a space on the jazz shelf.

Copyright © 2015 Mark Werlin and HRAudio.net

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