Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jamie Reynolds: Grey Mirror

6

Jamie Reynolds: Grey Mirror

By

Sign in to view read count
Jamie Reynolds: Grey Mirror
New York-based pianist James Reynolds set himself up with the challenge of conveying the realities of certain emotions musically. The result is Grey Mirror, a piano trio enhanced by the contributions of guitarist Matthew Stevens and The Westerlies, a two trumpet, two trombone quartet.

Reynolds proves himself a fine conceptualist, with some tunes featuring his trio—often shined up with the Wurlitzer—others embellished with the brass guys, and the rest emboldened by Stevens modernistic guitar work. Reynolds also present double takes on three tunes, alternating brass and guitar and piano trio renditions.

"The Earliest Ending" opens the set with a majestic Westerlies fanfare; it ends with the same tune, a somber mood piece as it opens, featuring Reynolds' trio and Matthew Stevens' subdued guitar—recognisably the same tune but entirely different in mood and atmospherics. Then it builds momentum, evolving into a futuristic anthem that gives way to Reynolds' brief, pensive piano. "Church" takes the same approach—a piano trio versus The Westerlies. The Wurlitzer glistens with a gorgeous sheen over the acoustic piano on the trio offering. On the shorter version with the horn men, a beautiful stateliness pervades.

With the different instrumental configurations, Grey Mirror requires attentive listening. So does Reynolds "doing his own thing" compositional and arrangeing skills that don't seem easily comparative. Most artists can be put in a box, or a least in the proximity of one. That can't be said with Reynolds. The attentive listening pays off.

Track Listing

The Earliest Ending (The Westerlies); Grey Mirror (Featuring Matthew Stevens); Church; Lake Cycle (The Westerlies); Small Worlds (Featuring Matthew Stevens); Green-wood; Church (The Westerlies); Untitled Interlude; Sleep (Featuring Matthew Stevens); The Latest Beginning (The Westerlies); Lake Cycle; Good Help; Small Worlds (The Westerlies); The Earliest Ending (Featuring Matthew Stevens)

Personnel

Jamie Reynolds: Piano, Wurlitzer; Matthew Stevens: Guitar; Orlando LeFleming: Acoustic and Electric Bass; Eric Doob: Drums; The Westerlies; Andy Clausen: Trombone; Willem de Koch: Trombone; Zubin Hensler: Trumpet; Riley Mulherkar: Trumpet

Album information

Title: Grey Mirror | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Fresh Sound New Talent

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create 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.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve 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.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.