Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Todd Neufeld: Mu'U

Todd Neufeld: Mu'U

By Mark Sullivan
October 6, 2017
View read count

Guitarist

Todd Neufeld

guitar
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Todd Neufeld makes his debut as a leader, after recording with drummer

Tyshawn Sorey

drums
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Tyshawn Sorey on his Koan (482 Music, 2009) and Oblique-l (Pi Recordings, 2011) albums and working with the late Japanese pianist

Masabumi Kikuchi

piano
1939 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Masabumi Kikuchi, saxophonists

Lee Konitz

saxophone, alto
1927 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz and

Tony Malaby

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Malaby, and others.

After the brief introduction "Dynamics" with bassist

Thomas Morgan

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Morgan and drummers

Billy Mintz

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Mintz and

Tyshawn Sorey

drums
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Tyshawn Sorey, vocalist

" data-original-title="" title="">Rema Hasumi joins in on "Echo's Bones," giving the piece a welcome focal point. She is the lead instrument on "Novo Voce" until the guitar and trombone take over, performing a similar function on "Kira."

It's a generally languid sound, Neufeld's gentle, sometimes lyrical guitar abstractions accompanied by a textural soundscape from the two drummers. Even the brief drum duet on "C.F.G." (which has the most bebop-influenced theme on the album) is a cooperative, non-bombastic affair. Sorey makes a rare appearance playing bass trombone—on "Contraction" his repeated riffs provide an additional supportive structural layer, while "Novo Voce" finds him in dialog with the other instruments. Neufeld and Mintz play two brief duets, both exercises in texture and restraint.

All these musicians have a healthy respect for dynamics, and are not afraid of silence. Listening to Mu'U is like overhearing an intense conversation among old friends.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Dynamics; Echo's Bones; Entrance; C.G.F.; Contraction; Taunti; Novo Voce; Kira; Nor

Personnel

Todd Neufeld

guitar

Todd Neufeld: electric guitar; Thomas Morgan: acoustic bass; Tyshawn Sorey: drums, bass trombone (5 and 7); Billy Mintz: drums, congas (2); Rema Hasumi: voice (2, 5, 7, 8)

Album information

Title: Mu'U | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Ruweh Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

"A Love Supreme" with Ravi Coltrane
< Previous

Mississippi Slide!
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.