EYES ON THE HORIZON is a masterful exploration of musical dialogue, showcasing not just the talents of Fonda and his collaborators, but also the profound influence of Wadada Leo Smith’s legacy.
Long Song Records
Joe Fonda – Double Bass, Flute, Composition; Wadada Leo Smith – Trumpet; Satoko Fujii – Piano; Tiziano Tononi – Drums
Joe Fonda’s EYES ON THE HORIZON is a heartfelt tribute to his mentor, Wadada Leo Smith, and the album stands out as one of the year’s best.
Fonda composed the album with Wadada Leo Smith’s writing style in mind, not to imitate him but to reflect the lessons he absorbed from his mentor.
Fonda wanted to gather a quartet deeply familiar with Wadada Leo Smith’s music. Pianist Satoko Fujii, who’s collaborated with Fonda often and featured Wadada on two of her albums, was the perfect choice. Drummer Tiziano Tononi, a regular on seven of Fonda’s records, was another good fit. And, of course, Wadada himself joins on trumpet.
In the title track, “Eyes On the Horizon,” the trumpet, bass, piano, and drums weave in and out, before Fujii solos, her left hand firmly anchoring the melody while her right hand explores the upper notes with a sense of abandon. A short pause signals the full band to step in, setting the stage for another solo or a return to the ensemble.
Almost all of the composition titles come from memories of being around Wadada. ‘Eyes On the Horizon ’is Fonda’s impression of how Smith always keeps the big picture in mind. “He never gave up and he stayed focused. Now he’s recording, performing, and composing some of the most powerful and spiritual music of our time.”
In ‘Inspiration Opus #1,’ the trumpeter’s clear tone takes flight, effortlessly shifting from grounded, resonant whole notes to bursts of rapid-fire phrases. Fujii takes Wadada’s lead as a launchpad, building upon it and adding her own intricate layers.
Fonda explained how he put the album together, “Most of the time, we play with a more collective mindset. What I composed is not necessarily a simple theme-solo-theme structure. It’s more like how Wadada inserts improvisations into written material. I tried to orchestrate it differently so that different musicians carry the themes at different moments and others improvise at various points.”
In ‘Bright Lights Opus #5, ’an electrifying duet unfolds between drummer Tononi and Wadada. The trumpeter showcases his command over the instrument’s timbre and texture, weaving in expressive, oblique phrasing. Fonda anchors the piece on bass but caps it off with a beautifully resonant turn on flute.
There’s another amazing duo on ‘We Need Members Opus #4 ’between Fujii and Fonda. Then, Fonda solos with powerful riffs, and the way he develops his lines feels like a slow-moving train you know will make it to the station on time.
Overall, EYES ON THE HORIZON is a masterful exploration of musical dialogue, showcasing not just the talents of Fonda and his collaborators, but also the profound influence of Wadada Leo Smith’s legacy.
