THE UNDERSTATED is jazz chamber music of transcendent quality.
Resident Arts Records
Ben Wolfe – Bass; Nicole Glover – Tenor Saxophone; Orrin Evans – Piano; Aaron Kimmel -Drums; Russell Malone – Guitar; Sullivan Fortner – Piano
What first struck me about bassist and composer Ben Wolfe’s THE UNDERSTATED was how calming and serene it was, yet at the same time it was fascinating because I heard skeletal echoes of what some of my favorite jazz musicians from the past had done.
Wolfe assembled some of the best modern jazz players for THE UNDERSTATED, including pianist Orrin Evans, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, drummer Aaron Kimmel, guitarist Russell Malone, and pianist Sullivan Fortner.
Wolfe has consistently been captivated by the beauty of delicacy, finding tranquility and elegance in unexpected places. Charlie Parker’s ability to craft intricate melodies with emotional depth can convey a sense of tranquility alongside his complex bebop lines. The interplay and Coltrane’s lyrical phrasing add an element of elegance in John Coltrane’s Quartet. Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five recordings from the 1920s show elegance through Armstrong’s impeccable phrasing and the simplicity and clarity of his melodies, creating a sense of serenity.
Wolfe’s bass lines on ’The Poet Speaks’ are thoughtful, deliberate, like a painter prepping his canvas for something special. The tune is low-key, hypnotic, and Nicole Glover’s tenor saxophone is icy cool elegance. She is capable of wailing on her instrument, but here she goes for restraint. Glover is a master at controlling dynamics, delivering quiet yet potent and intense lines.
The recordings that Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh made together were relaxed, intricate, and the way they weaved independent melodic lines into an engaging whole was one of the brighter spots in jazz history. I hear some of that in ’The Poet Speaks.’
I love Orrin Evans playful piano on ‘Ocean’s Razor.’ His repeated phrases are like the children’s game, “Catch Me If You Can,’ where the players run, dodge, and change direction. Glover’s cheeky tenor saxophone dances through the challenge and guitarist Russell Malone’s solo resonates like a conversation you don’t want to end. Everyone echoes the musical phrases, ending the tune. This is an ensemble that loves playing together.
‘Ballad in B’ could be the perfect lullaby, its hypnotic harmonies weave in and out, without overwhelming anything. I don’t think I have ever heard a drummer play so quietly, yet so effectively. Aaron Kimmel’s light touch is both intentional and controlled, with his brushes on the cymbals perfectly complementing the airy quality of Glover’s tenor saxophone.
THE UNDERSTATED is jazz chamber music of transcendent quality. You could compare it to the sound of ocean water washing up on the sand at night, leaving behind intriguing clues.
