Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Fabian Almazan: Rhizome

Fabian Almazan: Rhizome

By Mark F. Turner
October 25, 2014
View read count

Track review of "The Elders"

Pianist Fabian Almazan may have initially been recognized for his prodigious skills as a member of

Terence Blanchard

trumpet
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Terence Blanchard's ensemble but his debut Personalities(Biophilia Records, 2011) unveiled not only the depth he possesses as a musician but also something Blanchard realized in many of his own recordings—Almazan's forte as a composer. This should not come as a surprise since the young New York based rising star is involved not only in jazz but also filming scoring projects which included a Sundance Composers' Lab 2011 fellowship.

His sophomore release, Rhizome follows in the same intellectually stimulating vibe of its predecessor unveiling a fresh concept of jazz and chamber music with Cuban influences. Almazan's compositions are cerebral yet emotionally centered, incorporating his jazz trio (bassist

Linda May Han Oh

bass, acoustic
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Linda May Han Oh and drummer

Henry Cole

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Henry Cole with string quartet and vocals. Yet one of the most stimulating selections is the cover of

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter's "The Elders" from

Weather Report

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Weather Report's beloved yet infamous 1978 album Mr. Gone (Columbia) which at the time received an incredulous "one star" review by Down Beat.

There are insights into both Shorter's compositional brilliance and Almazan's astute arranging which captures the original's ethereal mood while giving it new life. In place of

Jaco Pastorius

bass, electric
1951 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Jaco Pastorius' percussive bass slaps, handclaps are used to create the rhythmic dance-like procession as the strings and piano trade the haunting melody. The piece is sprinkled with intricate electronic colors—synths, bells, and other noises as the progression moves towards a stormy crescendo. Is this neoclassical electronic jazz or simply a fresh versioning of misunderstood music from a 1970s and 80s jazz super group? It makes no difference on this fascinating ride. Kudos to Fabian Almazan.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Personnel

Fabian Almazan

piano

Fabian Almazan: piano, electronics, handclaps; Linda Oh: bass; Henry Cole: drums; Camila Meza: vocals; Sara Caswell: violin; Tomoko Omura: violin; Karen Waltuch: viola; Noah Hoffeld: cello.

Album information

Title: Rhizome | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: ArtistShare

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Metropolitan Gospel Big Band at Rest...
< Previous

Contrasts
Next >

Fabian Almazan Concerts

Sep 21 Sun

Linda May Han Oh Quintet

The Sapphire Room At The Riverside Hotel
Boise, ID

Sep 22 Mon

Linda May Han Oh Quintet

The Arid Club
Boise, ID

Sep 28 Sun

David Sánchez: Carib

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society
Half Moon Bay, CA

Oct 7 Tue

Johnathan Blake

Ronnie Scott's
London, UK

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.