Grdina’s compositions range from tender ballads to angular, searing avant-jazz. Arab-flavored duos with oud provide a subtle world music dimension similar to Grdina’s Think Like the Waves release with Gary Peacock and Paul Motian. Inimitable NY tenor saxist Malaby and powerhouse Vancouver drummer Loewen play on the four quartet tracks. “Visceral Voices” is both free and swinging. “The Throes” has a dark melodic/harmonic language and 5/4 lope reminiscent of certain tunes from Think Like the Waves, but the treatment is somehow more rooted, a melancholy introspection tempered by the group’s buoyant togetherness. Also notable are the tender duo ballad “Nayeli Joon” (named after Grdina’s daughter) and the experimental “Cluster”, where the duo quietly plays the melody and improvises off it against an overdubbed backdrop chaos of effected bowed guitar. Dynamic, textured audiophile recording. Grdina and Loewen are longtime collaborators of Canadian indie-rocker Dan Mangan, currently touring internationally as Dan Mangan + Blacksmith.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Hope in Being 6:58

2. Limbo 5:45

3. The Throes 8:29

4. Leisure Park 4:44

5. Fast Times 5:51

6. Nayeli Joon 7:02

7. Cluster 5:12

8. Fierce Point 6:30

9. Visceral Voices 7:34

Track Listing

• Hope in Being
• Limbo
• The Throes
• Leisure Park
• Fast Times
• Nayeli Joon
• Cluster
• Fierce Point
• Visceral Voices

Additional Details

Label: Songlines

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 59 mins

Release Date: 06/01/15

UPC: 774355160329