Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Vana Gierig: Making Memories

Vana Gierig: Making Memories

By Dan Bilawsky
September 16, 2013
View read count

German-born, New York-based pianist Vana Gierig was making memorable music long before Making Memories came into existence. This Berklee and New England Conservatory-trained ivory tickler has been turning heads with his own work, and through sideman stints with everybody from ��ber-hip cabaret singer

Ute Lemper

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Ute Lemper to violinist

Regina Carter

violin
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Regina Carter, for quite some time, but no single project has been able to properly display the true depth and breadth of his artistry; that is, no single project until this one.

Making Memories is an expansive nine song program that highlights Gierig's compositional skills and pianistic acumen. Stating that the album contains a wide range of music is a bit of an understatement; it's more accurate to say each song contains a wide range of musical ideas. The album-opening "Declaration" embodies this ideal better than any other piece, moving from graceful- and-spellbinding solo piano to firm-time, fanciful territory to hand clap-backed high jinks to carousel rides to swing; and that's only a partial, reductionist description of this eleven-plus minute performance. Almost every number that follows also contains myriad ideas.

The title track, the first of many numbers to feature

Paquito D'Rivera

clarinet
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Paquito D'Rivera on clarinet, is music put through a global blender, with Brazilian and Middle Eastern strains presenting as the dominant flavors. D'Rivera's next appearance, on the alluring "Morning Cadence," is equally worldly, moving from an elegant chamber-esque setting to more exotic lands. A Spanish tinge enlivens this number and several other pieces on the album, but it's never too pungent or over-pronounced. As the program continues, variety remains the spice of life. "The Spell" is friendly as can be, with a lightly flowing rhythmic current moving beneath Gierig's piano and wordless vocals. Things heat up on "The Spiraling Spell," as D'Rivera and Gierig play for, with, and against one another, and the music takes a turn toward the reflective with the strings- enhanced "Rome."

This album's greatest strengths are long gaze compositions and holistic performances which serve as reflections of the leader's musical background. Gierig's experience(s) and unquenchable thirst for musical knowledge shine through at every turn.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Declaration; Making Memories; Texting While Driving; Morning Cadence; The Spell; The Spiraling Spell; Rome; Looking Back; Conversations.

Personnel

Vana Gierig

piano

Vana Gierig: piano, vocal (5), hand claps (1, 4, 5), percussion (2, 5); Paquito D'Rivera: clarinet (2, 4, 5-7); Sean Conly: bass (2, 4, 5-7), hand claps (4, 5); Matthew Parrish: bass (1, 3, 8, 9); Marcello Pellitteri: drums (1-3, 5-9), hand claps (1, 4, 5), guira (4) ; Gene Jackson: drums (4); Vinicius Barros: percussion (1, 2, 4-6, 9), hand claps (1, 4, 5); Jane Hunt: violin (2, 4, 7); Wolfram Koessel: cello (2, 4, 7).

Album information

Title: Making Memories | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Enja Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Saturday Morning
< Previous

Come Over
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.