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Ben Flocks: Mask of the Muse

By Geno Thackara
January 25, 2020
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It was probably inevitable that the start of the 2020's would see something of a comeback for the Roaring Twenties of the last century. You could say that puts

Ben Flocks

saxophone
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Flocks ahead of the curve for releasing this homage to mark the change of decade... well, except that it's not just rooted in the previous gilded age, and it's not of the roaring variety either. Mask of the Muse is more than a time capsule anyway. It could make a soundtrack for glittering ballrooms full of slinky dresses and dapper suits, but also work just as well for late-night quiet time when nobody is around.

This is a bewitching affair (black tie optional) inspired by golden-age fashion and film noir, with all the mystery and glitzy allure that entails. Flocks handles material associated with the likes of

Frank Sinatra

vocals
1915 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Sinatra,

Billie Holiday

vocals
1915 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Billie Holiday,

Grant Green

guitar
1935 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Grant Green and

Sam Cooke

vocals
1931 - 1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Sam Cooke, all familiar yet appealingly hazy; he and guitarist/producer

Ari Chersky

" data-original-title="" title="">Ari Chersky don't quite arrange the pieces so much as pour their essence into new bottles.

Frank LoCrasto

piano
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank LoCrasto's piano and organ can hint at smoky mystery or tropical breeze, always with the rhythm section of

Martin Nevin

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Martin Nevin and

Evanh Hughes

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Evanh Hughes understatedly keeping step.

It's no coincidence that one-third of the song titles have to do with dreams; from snazzy swing to vaguely edgy blues or a dash of doo- wop, it all drifts by in an atmosphere rich and slightly dangerous. Flocks leads by drawing out his saxophone lines with enough patience and nuance to fit the mood; even when one of his solos picks up the pace, the lines flow smoothly enough not to be jarring. More often, though, he chooses steady and simple, letting the melodies and his unflappable tone speak for themselves. Mask of the Muse goes down like a chilled martini, all cool taste and class; no individual piece really stands out but, overall, the whole quietly dazzles.

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Track Listing

Muse's Mask; Dream; Dream of Life; Shangri-La; Street of Dreams; Smoke Rings; Siren's Spell; While a Cigarette Was Burning; Unmasked; Ebb Tide; Duende; Dawning Reverie (Dream of Life).

Personnel

Ben Flocks

saxophone

Ben Flocks: tenor and soprano saxophone; Ari Chersky: electric and acoustic guitar; Frank LoCrasto: piano, organ, Rhodes, Mellotron, Vox Continental, Prophet, glockenspiel; Martin Nevin: upright bass; Evan Hughes: drums and percussion.

Album information

Title: Mask of the Muse | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Self Produced

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