Invisible Music Records continues to bring to public attention the artistry of musicians working and living in the New England area, with special emphasis on the state of Maine. Not only does the label record artists who would not otherwise be heard, but they open their recording studio to musicians who go beyond standards to explore newer music for consideration. The title of this album is just that,
Consideration, with a musical agenda of ten of jazz drummer
Steve Grover's originals.
Grover has significant composing credentials. His "Blackbird Suite" won the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz/BMI Jazz Composers Competition for 1994. The momentum from that recognition carries through to this album.
Grover is not stuck in a musical rut, being endowed with the ability to compose music designed to create a variety of listening sensations. On "Empathy,"
George Garzone's saxophone and Tim Sessions' trombone make the music float. "Row," as the name implies, is a row of 12 tones and features an ear-catching duet between Garzone's tenor and
Grover's drums. On the other hand, "Don Won" is contemplative, with an absorbing interplay between
Grover's restrained drumming, Garzone's inventive sax playing, and Sessions' probing, conversational trombone. The other participants contribute to the success of the session. There's the off center, jagged-chord piano playing by
Frank Carlberg and John Lockwood's palpitating bass. They move to center stage on "Say It Again" where Carlberg's piano with
Grover's delicately brushed cymbals and Lockwood's bass provide the rhythmic foundation in support of Sessions' trombone. Considerations presents a program of modern music without the cacophony and distortion too often associated with this musical style. This album has all the ingredients of a winner. Challenging music played by a group of artists clearly in synch with composer
Steve Grover's objectives and respecting each other's musical abilities put this album into the recommended category. ~ Dave Nathan