Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Maria Grand: Reciprocity

Maria Grand: Reciprocity

By Hrayr Attarian
May 11, 2021
View read count

In a mere decade composer and saxophonist

Maria Grand

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Maria Grand established herself as a refreshingly singular voice on the creative music scene. Both as a side-woman and a leader, Grand has matured into an expressive artist with a fluid style and a warm tone. Her second full-length release, the enchanting Reciprocity, well demonstrates Grand's talents in a sparse trio setting.

Inspired by motherhood, the recording brims with an exalted joy. "Creation, Ladder of Swords" has a deep spiritual aura and a dramatic ambience. Into this, bassist

Kanoa Mendenhall

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Kanoa Mendenhall weaves dark reverberating lines while drummer

Savannah Harris

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Savannah Harris lays down an expectant groove with cymbal crashes and angular beats. Grand's vibrant tenor meanders contemplatively within her bandmates' cadence. As the tempo picks up, the ensemble performance evolves into a fiery repartee. The track is aptly followed by a celebratory song over haunting vamps, called "Prayer"

Elswhere, the two-part "Fundamental" opens with a collective vocal chant, which Harris' poignant percussion and Mendenhall's hypnotic con arco frame. The atmosphere is almost like a pagan mass. Grand blows muscular and passionate phrases as she builds a captivating improvisation. Mendenhall solos with breathtaking eloquence as Harris restlessly propels the piece to its haunting conclusion.

Similarly "Creativity: the Joy of Being" starts off with three voices reciting a single sentence like a mantra. Grand's melancholic, incandescent tenor yearns and simmers with emotion as Mendenhall and Harris deftly support and push the saxophonist's spontaneity to new heights. They are not, however, merely building a supportive rhythmic framework for Grand, each person is also extemporizing with consummate virtuosity. Three stylistically individual yet interdependent improvisations coalesce into a vibrant and multi-faceted gem of a tune. Indeed this sublime synergy within the group is apparent throughout the superb album.

Reciprocity is a stimulating, cohesive opus which showcases Grand's brilliance to its fullest. That Harris and Mendenhall also share Grand's aesthetic vision makes this work even more delightful and fascinating. It is a personal and intriguing statement from a uniquely talented musician.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Creation: The Joy of Being; Whabri; Creation: A Home In Mind; Fundamental Pt. I; Fundamental Pt. 2; Creation: Ladder of Swords; Prayer; Creation: Interlude; Now, Take, Your, Day; Creation: Superbear; Creation: Matrescence; Canto Manta; Creation: Welcome, Starseed.

Personnel

Maria Grand

saxophone, tenor

Kanoa Mendenhall

bass, acoustic

Savannah Harris

drums

Album information

Title: Reciprocity | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Biophilia Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Moon on the Lake
< Previous

Free Association, Vol. 4 with Stepha...
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.