Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Seamus Blake: Bellwether

Seamus Blake: Bellwether

By Robert Dugan
December 19, 2009
View read count

This is a great period for tenor players, with some of the best in our midst:

Chris Potter

saxophone, tenor
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Potter,

Jimmy Greene

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Greene,

Donny McCaslin

saxophone, tenor
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Donny McCaslin,

Marcus Strickland

clarinet, bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Marcus Strickland, and Seamus Blake, among others. Surfacing in the

" data-original-title="" title="">Mingus Big Band during the nineties, Blake's aggressive edginess was impressive in a group which took no prisoners. The tenor saxophonist more than held his own. Recently, he seems to be refining and elaborating his improvisational style while further developing his compositional skills.

With Bellwether, Blake brings a number of shrewd twists and extensions to the contemporary, post-hard bop genre. This is much the same band as on Blake's highly-regarded outing Way Out Willy (Criss Cross, 2007). Only the Australian bassist

Matt Clohesy

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Clohesy is new.

Claiming he was attracted to

John Scofield

guitar
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">John Scofield's "Dance Me Home" for its "fun to play on" modulations, Blake transforms this opening tune's original funk into straight-out, up-tempo blowing. It may be the most predictable piece on the album. On Blake's original, "A Beleza Que Vem," a relaxed homage to Brazilian music, pianist

David Kikoski

piano
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">David Kikoski sets up a lovely lilt using an almost formal triple-metered, dance-hall rhythm. Blake's ballad "The Song That Lives Inside," reveals echoes of

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's classic, "'Round Midnight," and includes a fine acoustic guitar solo from guitarist

Lage Lund

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Lage Lund. The title tune rides an easy, swaying 5/4, while on the up-tempo cooker, "Minor Celebrity," drummer

Bill Stewart

drums
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Stewart conjures a constantly-simmering, complex rumble in seven.

The real surprise comes at the end of this release: Debussy's "String Quartet in G." It's a wonder improvising musicians haven't mined the string quartet repertoire before, with its scads of melodies and harmonies which seem tailor-made for the developmental instincts and intricacies of a jazz group. Here Blake tackles the third movement and works some of its chords into a mid-section recurring pattern for solos. With soprano and piano dominating, the piece features Kikoski, who knows this territory well and incorporates those distinctive and irresistible impressionist harmonies.

For some, possibly, the front line unison of tenor and guitar head statements may seem a bit familiar. It is a popular style now, with many groups like those of

Kurt Rosenwinkel

guitar
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Kurt Rosenwinkel and

Mark Turner

saxophone, tenor
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Turner,

Adam Rogers

guitar
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Rogers and Chris Potter, and

Joshua Redman

saxophone
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Joshua Redman and

Ben Monder

guitar
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Monder having taken the same approach.

But there are enough subtle differences within these performances and compositions to distinguish this from what at first might appear as another variation on the usual Criss Cross date. The Brazilian piece avoids the typical bossa treatment; the varied time signatures are intriguing and fresh; and the Debussy closer is a gem. While there may be nothing uncharted here, except perhaps for the Debussy, Bellwether becomes more enticing and satisfying with each listen.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Dance Me Home; A Beleza Que Vem; Subterfuge; The Song That Lives Inside; Bellwether; Minor Celebrity; String Quartet in G Minor,Opus 10.

Personnel

Seamus Blake

saxophone

Lage Lund

guitar

Matt Clohesy

bass

David Kikoski

piano

Bill Stewart

drums

Album information

Title: Bellwether | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Criss Cross

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Risa Negra
< Previous

Duane Eubanks at The Turning Point C...
Next >

Seamus Blake Concerts

Oct 1 Wed

Seamus Blake Quartet

Blue Note
Milano, Italy

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.