Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ark Ovrutski: Journey Moments

Ark Ovrutski: Journey Moments

By Dan Bilawsky
July 8, 2018
View read count

In listening to this music, each song, solo, and split-second decision can be defined as a journey moment. Every single one, large or small, plays as a parallel or reflection of life's rich travels, bringing to light thoughts and emotions both firm and fleeting in nature. And in the sum total of them all, where action, reaction, and interaction play the role of viewfinders for those on the receiving end, truths of a varied sort emerge.

Journey Moments marks the fourth date from

Ark Ovrutski

bass, acoustic
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Ark Ovrutski. A ballasting bassist with a purposeful approach, appreciation for past masters, and embrace of the present, Ovrutski knows how to find his way to central avenues, modern highways, Brazilian streets, and back roads. His previous dates found him traveling said thoroughfares with quintets, so this one marks a departure of sorts with its focus on a foursome. But while the setting may be slightly different, the sensibility remains similar in nature.

In these nine songs—five Ovrutski originals and four classics—we find light, depth, strength, humor and sensitivity. The album sets sail with "Second Line," a foray into a bluesy funk territory that orients the ears to the combined sound and force of Ovrutski, saxophonist

Myron Walden

saxophone, alto
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Myron Walden, pianist

Benito Gonzalez

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Benito Gonzalez, and drummer

McClenty Hunter, Jr.

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">McClenty Hunter, Jr. From there it's off to

Frank Foster

saxophone
1928 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Foster's "Simone," where rubato ruminations pave the way for waltzing intrigue; over to "Flower," a number placing Walden's piquant horn in natural light; and on to

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter's "Lester Left Town," a chestnut that sings and swings to the beauty of its maker.

At the album's center sits

Ron Carter

bass
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Carter's "For Toddlers Only," a duet between Ovrutski and Walden that offers a serious change of pace both in character and condition. Lighthearted camaraderie and repartee carry the day, but the music and kinship is serious all the way. Save for a take on Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance," the second half of the program belongs to Ovrutski's pen. He revisits the raucous and ripe atmosphere of "New Orleans" that he painted on 44:33 (Zoho Music, 2014), travels back to his debut album in spirit on "Sounds Of Brazil," and closes out the program with the driving New York edge and energy of "Uptown."

Ark Ovrutski knows his way around and thensome. That's not exactly news, but it still bears repeating when music like this emerges.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Second Line; Simone; Flower; Lester Left Town; For Toddlers Only; New Orleans; Dolphin Dance; Sounds Of Brasil; Uptown.

Personnel

Ark Ovrutski

bass, acoustic

Ark Ovrutski: bass; Myron Walden: saxophone; Benito Gonzalez: piano; McClenty Hunter: bass.

Album information

Title: Journey Moments | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Ark Ovrutski Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The Nels Cline 4 At Higher Ground
< Previous

Peter and the Wolf
Next >

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.