Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ben Perowsky Quartet: Esopus Opus
Ben Perowsky Quartet: Esopus Opus
Steven Bernstein
trumpetb.1961
Uri Caine
pianob.1956
Dave Douglas
trumpetb.1963
John Zorn
saxophone, altob.1953
An artist with eclectic interests, the debut of Perowsky's new quartet, Esopus Opus, features myriad genres—from classic rock covers and Brazilian favorites to his own mercurial originals. Interestingly, Perowsky's group inadvertently mirrors fellow percussionist 
John Hollenbeck
drums
b.1968
Chris Speed
saxophone
Drew Gress
bass
b.1959
Despite similarities in personnel, Perowsky approaches writing for the same basic instrumentation from a different angle, drawing deeper from folk forms and popular music than Hollenbeck, whose more formal approach embraces aspects of neo-classicism and minimalism. Like two sides of the same coin, Perowsky uses a similar palette to obtain different results; his appealingly ragged tunes are more akin to punk rock than classical music.
A latecomer to jazz, Perowsky spent his formative years playing in rock bands. His choice of cover tunes reveals a fondness for the genre, with a knack for creatively reinterpreting straightforward pop melodies without abstracting them beyond recognition. 
Jimi Hendrix
guitar, electric
1942 - 1970
Hermeto Pascoal
multi-instrumentalist
1936 - 2025
The Beatles
band / ensemble / orchestra
Eclectic to a fault, the album's original tunes veer from funky blues ("Key Lime") and cartoonish ebullience ("Esopus Opus") to testimonial Gospel ("Murnau on the Bayou") and a modal waltz ("Present Distance"). Perowsky even internalizes the classic rock of his youth, liberally quoting Argent's 1972 hit "Hold Your Head Up" on the moody closer, "Red Hook."
Beyond the catchy tunes, the record's lasting appeal rests in the stellar capabilities of Perowsky's veteran sidemen. Gress' subterranean bottom end complements the leader's percussive thrashings with machine-like precision while Reichman's rich chordal voicings lend an exotic air; his sonorous pedal tones provide the group with a vast, expansive sound. Playing clarinet for the majority of the session, Speed delivers a number of breathtaking statements, most notably on the 
John Coltrane
saxophone
1926 - 1967
A compelling statement from an up and coming new voice, Esopus Opus is a raw, enthusiastic exploration of the endless possibilities of contemporary music.
">Track Listing
Key Lime; Manic Depression; Within You Without You; Esopus Opus; Perolas; New Um Talvez; Flying; Murnau On The Bayou; Present Distance; Red Hook.
Personnel
Ben Perowsky
drumsBen Perowsky: drums, Chris Speed: clarinet, tenor saxophone; Ted Reichman: accordion; Drew Gress: bass.
Album information
Title: Esopus Opus | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Skirl Records
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