NICK RUSSO + 11 With MARK TURNER/ARI HOENIG/DAVE PLEASANT/SAMIR CHATTERJEE et al
Featuring Nick Russo on guitars, banjo & songs, Mark Turner & Bryan Murray on tenor saxes, Greg Glassman on trumpet, Art Hirahara on piano & Fender Rhodes, Nathan Peck & Matt Clohesy on basses, Samir Cahatterjee on tabla and David Pleasant, Ari Hoenig & Willard Dyson on drums.
I only know of Nick Russo from a gig he played here at DMG with bassist Michael Bates. I know of a few of his cohorts here like Mark Turner, Samir Chatterjee (from Ned Rothenberg’s Sync) and Dave Pleasant (who used to play with Charles Gayle).
Although “Triggered” starts off as pretty straight ahead, it soon begins to switch between fast and slow sections. The quick sections are taken at a dizzying tempo that is great to behold. “Moy Zaichick” is a fascinating piece that is consistently in motion and changing, always shifting tempos with strong solos from Mark Turner on tenor and Nick on guitar. It is the great rhythm team of Art Hirahara on electric piano, Nick Peck on bass and Willard Dyson on drums that truly sound inspired throughout this difficult piece. Nick plays some righteously lovely guitar on the Brazilian-like piece, “Dinda”, which has an elegant melody that is difficult to forget once you hear it. Samir Chatterjee’s tablas are featured at the center of “Mitzvah”, as well as Miles Griffith’s inventive scat vocals. Nick takes another great solo here, another gem to behold. “Little Hands” is an odd trio of banjo, hand percussion and voice and has a strong Indian vibe with a hypnotic drone within. “Please Come Home” closes with an enchanting free sort of vibe, that builds into a mysterious floating groove. It is the perfect to bring this fine disc to great conclusion.
– BLG