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Albare: Eclecticity

By Jack Bowers
June 17, 2025
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On Eclecticity, his 17th recording as leader of his own groups, Moroccan-born Australia-based guitarist Albare (given name: Albert Dadon) uses, for the most part, members of his working groups, the Alchemists and Harmonix Experiment, to help him plumb jazz tradition and breathe life into 10 of his distinctive yet custom-tailored compositions and arrangements.

As a rule, Albare favors strong mid-tempo rhythms that meld emphatically behind sporadic solo commentary by trumpeter

Mat Jodrell

trumpet
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Mat Jodrell, saxophonist

Phil Noy

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Noy, pianist

Phil Turcio

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Turcio, organist

Jake Mason

organ, Hammond B3

" data-original-title="" title="">Jake Mason and the leader himself. Melodically, Albare's themes are serviceable but no more than that; in other words, rather easily set aside and forgotten. It is group interplay, not harmonic flair, that makes this engine hum.

And hum it does, thanks largely to Albare's able companions who include Turcio, bassist

Phil Rex

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Rex, drummer

Felix Bloxom

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Felix Bloxom and percussionist

Salvador Persico

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Salvador Persico, with accordionist

Joe Chindamo

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Chindamo added on "New Dawn." It purrs, for the most part, in low gear, however, thanks to Albare's fondness for low-pressure cadences. An exception is the fast-paced "Simplicity," wherein everyone flexes their metric muscles while Noy (on tenor) and Albare deliver peppery solos. Elsewhere, everyone goes with the flow, which is, more often than not, temperate and mellow.

Eclecticity portrays a pleasant journey, and is certainly well-performed by Albare and co. Aside from the musicianship, however, there is little here that denotes a more than moderate enterprise.

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Track Listing

All Night Blues; Song for Bird; Long Haul; Morning Dance; Simplicity; Israel Blues; Midnight Mirage; Just a Blues; New Dawn; Round Trip.

Personnel

Albare

guitar

Mat Jodrell

trumpet

Phil Turcio

keyboards

Phil Noy

saxophone, alto

Salva Percio

percussion

Phil Rex

bass

Felix Bloxsom

drums

Paul Williamson

trumpet

Jake Mason

organ, Hammond B3

Album information

Title: Eclecticity | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Self Produced

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