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Stephan Crump: Stephan Crump's Rhombal

By Mark Corroto
October 15, 2016
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Often times, a jazz performance without a chordal instrument, a guitar or piano, is considered to be flying without a net. Exciting, but often without aim. It routinely relies on just one powerful figure to command the proceedings. That is, unless the ensemble is configured under egalitarian principles. Equal contribution and respect for the differing voices removes that fear of flying without the safety of a chordal net. If I can paraphrase Abraham Lincoln for you now, "a jazz quartet of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth."

Ok, so I hyperbolize a bit, but spinning bassist

Stephan Crump

bass, acoustic
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Stephan Crump's Rhombal highlights the true democratic principles of jazz. His working quartet of saxophonist

Ellery Eskelin

saxophone, tenor
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Ellery Eskelin, trumpeter

Adam O'Farrill

trumpet
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam O'Farrill, and drummer

Tyshawn Sorey

drums
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Tyshawn Sorey can create an autonomous art, individual voices working the create a unified sound.

Each player is a leader of their own bands, plus a contributor to multiple ensembles. Crump with

Vijay Iyer

piano
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Vijay Iyer,

Mary Halvorson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson, and his own Rosetta Trio. O'Farrill, grandson of

Chico O'Farrill

composer / conductor
1921 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Chico O'Farrill and son of

Arturo O'Farrill

piano
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Arturo O'Farrill with

Rudresh Mahanthappa

saxophone, alto
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Rudresh Mahanthappa, Sorey with just about every innovative working band today from

John Zorn

saxophone, alto
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">John Zorn to

Steve Lehman

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Lehman and

Steve Coleman

saxophone, alto
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Coleman, and Eskelin, the go-to Downtown musician for the past thirty years performing with

Satoko Fujii

piano
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Satoko Fujii,

Gerry Hemingway

drums
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Hemingway,

John Hollenbeck

drums
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">John Hollenbeck and recently in his New York Trio.

Putting this quartet together, Crump honors his late brother Patrick with music that ranges from the joyful post-bop of "Skippaningham" to the memento mori "Pulling Pillars -Outro for Patty." The compostions, all by Crump, strike one as pieces that could only be negotiated by this band. That's a ridiculous statement, but pairing the veteran Eskelin with the kid, O'Farrill, and the accented propulsion of Sorey creates a special sound.

"Birdwhistle" is busy with budgie horn chatter and the rustling trees sounds of Sorey's brushwork as Crump handles the pulse. Played as the birds scatter their solos. "Esquima Dream" is a piece Crump reimagined from his two guitar/bass Rosetta Trio. Sorey applies a funky hip-hop beat as the horns lock-in, then intertwine. "Tschi" feels like a piece Crump might invent with Mary Halvorson. The simplicity of its structure lends itself to the inviting development of solos that swing.

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Track Listing

1. NoD for Nelson 2. Grovi 3. Skippaningam 4. Loose Bay 5. Esquima Dream 6. How Close Are You 7. Tschi 8. Birdwhistle 9. Pulling Pillars - Outro for Patty

Personnel

Stephan Crump

bass, acoustic

Tyshawn Sorey

drums

Ellery Eskelin

saxophone, tenor

Adam O'Farrill

trumpet

Adam O'Farrill: tromba; Ellery Eskelin: sax (tenore); Stephan Crump: contrabbasso; Tyshawn Sorey: batteria.

Album information

Title: Rhombal | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Papillon Sounds

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Stephan Crump Concerts

Sep 24 Wed

Stephan Crump's Passerine

Barbes
Brooklyn, NY

Oct 9 Thu

Stephan Crump - Solo

P'tit Ours
Montreal, Canada

Oct 17 Fri

Otherlands Trio

The Jazz Gallery
New York, NY

Nov 14 Fri

Otherlands Trio

Firehouse 12
New Haven, CT

Jan 31 Sat

Stephan Crump - Passerine

Bar Bayeux
Brooklyn, NY

Apr 21 Tue

Stephan Crump - Slow Water

Krannert Center For The Performing Arts
Urbana, IL

Apr 24 Fri

Stephan Crump - Slow Water

The Cleveland Museum Of Art
Cleveland, OH

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