I’ve listened to EXPLOITATION SUITE a lot and I hear something new every time. I’m already looking forward to hearing what he puts out next.
Self-released
Roger Lin – Guitar & composition; Chaz Martineau – Saxophone; Moshe Elmakias – Piano; Isaac Levien – Bass (Track 2,3,5,7,9); Simon Willson – Bass (Track 1,4,6); Quinton Cain – Drums (Track 2,3,5,7,9); Willis Edmundson – Drums (Track 1,4,6);
Guitarist Roger Lin was born in Taiwan but now resides in New York, the jazz capital of the world. Lin said he wanted to use his new album, EXPLOITATION SUITE, to paint a realistic picture of the city’s scene, with all of its good, and all of its not so good.
I really liked Lin’s album, WHISPER OF THE ISOLATED ONES. It was easy to listen to in a cool, straight ahead jazz sort of way. Lin told me that after that first record he became more comfortable writing and developing the sounds and ideas he was hearing.
Sometimes it’s easy to hear the influence of another guitarist when you first hear someone. Not so with Roger Lin. Others have pointed out that his chording is different. He likes to use piano chord voicings. Before he picked up the guitar, he studied classical piano. He said his compositions usually start with him improvising on the piano and the guitar. “It’s funny, sometimes I actually write tunes on the piano and realize that I have to play guitar in it.”
Lin’s a fan of Ben Monder and Ralph Towner but he also listens to McCoy Tyner, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, and Brad Mehldau; especially the trio albums.
There are two different, but great sounding, rhythm sections on EXPLOITATION SUITE that appear in a selection of diverse musical pieces. There’s a solo guitar piece, a three-part suite, and tunes written for saxophone and guitar.
I love the rapport between Lin and saxophonist Chaz Martineau. I couldn’t help thinking about Duke Ellington writing things for his favorite sax players Johnny Hodges, and Paul Gonsalves. Martineau has a light, lyrical tone that reminds me of Lee Konitz or Warne Marsh.
The three parts of ‘Exploitation Suite ’show a strong classical music influence with maybe a nod to Bach? Lin picked a good pianist in Moshe Elmakias. He sounds like he’d be comfortable playing the Well-Tempered Clavier or jazz piano a la Keith Jarrett. Lin uses a lot of single notes in the upper register. He has such a gorgeous resonant tone on his guitar.
’Sneaky Bastards ’is a playful tune with Martineau playing boppish sax and doing it very well. Lin plays a beautiful solo with some chords strummed but mostly single notes played behind the beat.
‘Aliens In Capitalized Societies ’comes the closest to sounding like Lin’s first record. It’s laidback. It’s pretty in an otherworldly kind of way. I like the way Martineau’s sax slides into the song. He’s really good with dynamics.
I’ve listened to EXPLOITATION SUITE a lot and I hear something new every time. I’m already looking forward to hearing what he puts out next.
