Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Eric Hofbauer's Five Agents: Book Of Water

Eric Hofbauer's Five Agents: Book Of Water

By Jerome Wilson
June 3, 2019
View read count

Eric Hofbauer's Five Agents: Book Of Water

This CD marks the beginning of an ambitious project for guitarist

Eric Hofbauer

guitar
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Hofbauer, five connected recordings based on the Chinese philosophical construct of the Five Agents, wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each of these recordings is to have a different instrumental lineup, but for this first one, Book Of Water, he uses an explosive jazz sextet recorded in concert.

Apropos of the CD's title, this music flows continuously like water with only brief pauses between the five movements. On "Water Understands Civilization Well," Hofbauer's guitar trickles through a formidable three-horn front line of

Jerry Sabatini

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerry Sabatini on trumpet,

Seth Meicht

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Seth Meicht on tenor and

Jeb Bishop

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeb Bishop on trombone that lurches and tumbles like a classic

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman ensemble before giving way to an extended tenor soliloquy paced by guitar and a section of careening throb and tumble by the imposing rhythm duo of bassist

Nate McBride

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Nate McBride and drummer

Curt Newton

drums
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Curt Newton. On "It Wets, It Chills," Hofbauer's soft, metallic strumming and harp-like plucks are gradually joined by softly muted trumpet. Then the rest of the band comes in with measured, solemn breaths while Sabatini's trumpet cries plaintively in the foreground. The piece remains at a quiet volume and eventually fades until just McBride's bass groans are left.

"It Is Not Disconcerted" begins in a free atmosphere of stalking guitar, bass and drum sounds. As that settles into choppy but regular pulses, Meicht breezes in, serenading a broad melody. The overall sound slowly becomes more intense and by the time Bishop's braying trombone kicks in, the rhythm section has morphed into a tarry, skeletal funk groove like a

James Brown

vocals
1933 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">James Brown band in slow motion. "Well Used, Adorning Joy" starts with Hofbauer chipping out blowsy guitar figures, dripping notes off his fingers like raindrops, while McBride shadows him. The horns do a few slow wah-wah chords, then eventually McBride and Newton stir up a deep African groove. The horns repeat their phrase with increasing force and Hofbauer steps to the front, jangling and grinding an exotic vamp with the bass and drums.

"Ill Used, Will Elegantly Destroy" begins with giddy free scrambling by the guitar, trombone and bass that congeals into a regular rhythm. Then Bishop starts a dancing melody that turns into a triumphant, dizzying ride for the entire sextet. Sabatini's trumpet takes the lead and soars as Hofbauer invokes the "Take Five" rhythm. Eventually everyone takes heady, extended solos before everything ends with a climatic shout.

This is a thrilling ride that rolls, swirls and crashes like an elemental force. The horn players are exuberant, the rhythm section is buoyant and Hofbauer, whether carving out single notes like

Derek Bailey

guitar
1932 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Derek Bailey or tossing off busy runs like

Joe Morris

bass, acoustic
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Morris, threads the music together. There is delicacy and power in equal measure on this excellent release, one of the best of the year so far.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Water Understands Civilization Well; It Wets, It Chills; It Is Not Disconcerted; Well Used, Adorning Joy; Ill Used, Will Elegantly Destroy.

Personnel

Eric Hofbauer

guitar

Eric Hofbauer: guitar; Jerry Sabatini: trumpet; Seth Meicht: tenor sax; Jeb Bishop: trombone; Nate McBride: bass; Curt Newton: drums.

Album information

Title: Book Of Water | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Creative Nation Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Just Like Magic
< Previous

Infinite Blu
Next >

Eric Hofbauer Concerts

Oct 17 Fri

Phantom Of The Opera - The Centennial

Montpelier Performing Arts Hub
Montpelier, VT

Oct 18 Sat

Phantom Of The Opera - The Centennial

New Hampshire Theater Project
Portsmouth, NH

Oct 19 Sun

Phantom Of The Opera - The Centennial

Arts at the Armory
Somerville, MA

Oct 25 Sat

Phantom Of The Opera - The Centennial

Jmac - Jean Mcdonough Arts Center
Worcester, MA

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.