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Madre Vaca: Knights of the Round Table

By Jack Bowers
October 26, 2023
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The legend of King Arthur and Camelot is depicted musically on Knights of the Round Table, the sixth album by the Florida-based eleven-member ensemble, Madre Vaca, whose themes are composed by drummer

Benjamin Shorstein

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Benjamin Shorstein.

While Knights is presented as a ten-part suite, there seems to be no connecting tissue aside from the names of individual works —"Arthur," "Camelot," "Galahad," "Merlin," "Guinevere" and "Lancelot" among them. True, there seems to be an over-all medieval vibe underlining Shorstein's music, but that could be the placebo effect, as his compositions rest for the most part on a substratum of contemporary jazz, enhanced by uncommon and often crystalline departures.

The enigmatic "Lady of the Lake" introduces the suite, borne aloft by an ethereal waltz that gives way to earnest solos by pianist

Jonah Pierre

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jonah Pierre and bassist

Thomas Milovac

bass, acoustic
b.1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Milovac. "Galahad," a martial theme with horns, introduces Shorstein's sister, Rebecca, whose brief vocal leads to solos by guitarist

Jarrett Carter

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Jarrett Carter and (muted) trumpeter

Steve Strawley

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Strawley. Arthur's sword, "Excalibur," is shrouded in mystery, as befits its heritage, with Pierre leading the way, while the "Knights of the Round Table" are gregarious, singing in unison to complement spirited solos by Carter, Strawley, Pierre, Milovac and tenor

Juan Rollan

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Juan Rollan.

"Camelot" is next, its buoyant melody (with Rebecca Shorstein singing again) bearing no resemblance to the classic theme written for Broadway by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Rollan takes another solo, as does Pierre, before everyone begins a syncopated quest for "The Holy Grail" (led again by Pierre) and the mysterious "Merlin" weaves his magic in an even-tempered manner (as Pierre sets the tone). That leaves the three principals, "Arthur," "Guinevere" and "Lancelot," each of whom is represented by a suitably appropriate melody.

"Arthur," as portrayed here, is a dyed-in-the-wool swinger, while "Guinevere" is smooth and soft-spoken (as is Strawley's muted solo and Pierre's delicate piano), "Lancelot" steady and heroic (as Carter, Pierre and trombonist

Lance Reed

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Lance Reed carry his banner). At its heart, Knights of the Round Table is thematic, which is always a tricky proposition. Simply ignore that and you have a splendid album of contemporary jazz, perceptively interpreted and handsomely performed by Madre Vaca.

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Track Listing

The Lady of the Lake; Galahad; Excalibur; The Knights of the Round Table; Camelot; The Holy Grail; Merlin; King Arthur; Guinevere; Lancelot.

Personnel

Madre Vaca

band / ensemble / orchestra

Jarrett Carter

guitar

Jonah Pierre

piano

Thomas Milovac

bass, acoustic

Benjamin Shorstein

drums

Juan Rollan

saxophone

Lance Reed

trombone

Steve Strawley

trumpet

Milan Algood

percussion

Molly Sweet

clarinet

Michael Emmert

saxophone

Rebecca Shorstein

vocals

Album information

Title: Knights of the Round Table | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Self Produced

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