the attentive listener will discover rewards a plenty.
ECM 2879 / 882 5513
Mike Rodriguez (trumpet); Chris Cheek (tenor saxophone); Steve Cardenas (guitar); Gil Goldstein (piano); Steve Swallow (bass); Adam Nussbaum (drums)
Recorded September 2024
Despite a considerable discography this is remarkably Swallow’s first recording as leader for more than decade, with his previous album being Into The Woodworks back in 2013 and thus making this new release even more welcome.
For this recording the bassist has surrounded himself with friends with who he has made music in the past and who fully understand his methods. Having penned nine new compositions, simply titled ‘One’ through to ‘Nine’, Swallow and the sextet settle down to create some excellent music together.
Swallow’s compositions are lyrical, memorable and compact. Full of detail without superfluous gestures to detract from the inherent beauty of both the music and the playing. The opening track ‘One’ is simply stated and features some beautifully melodic and expressive trumpet from Rodriguez, who also excels the ballad, ‘Nine’. His overall contribution the music is nothing less than impressive throughout, and if anything, I would like to have heard more of his lovely trumpet playing.
Saxophonist Chris Cheek also acquits himself with honours in his solos on ‘Two’ and the perfectly relaxed tempo of ‘Four’ in which his playing is superb with nothing rushed. Cheek also comes out swinging, as do the rest of the band, on the straight ahead ‘Six’ that suits both horns just fine.
Should the frontline try to grab the limelight it must be pointed out that the interplay between the rhythm section doesn’t just lift the music but also repays close attention. Nussbaum is the epitome of good taste, and this frees up Swallow, pianist Gil Goldstein and Steve Cardenas on guitar to create a wonderfully solid interesting harmonic bedrock. The interplay is astonishing and the way Swallow and Cardenas swap lines and rhythmic ideas is staggering given the range and register of the bassist’s five string instrument that often makes forays into the guitar’s register.
Winter Songs is a nice record, but that doesn’t mean there is any lack of substance in the music. In fact, quite the opposite and the attentive listener will discover rewards a plenty.
