Michael Janisch's recording debut as a leader quickly separates him from the flood of similar releases by young players for several reasons. Equally skilled on acoustic and electric bass, he is joined by a rotating supporting cast for his stimulating originals and fresh interpretations of familiar songs, while he shows surprising strength as a composer as well. His setting of "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" blends Latin influences in a very loose adaptation, with pianist
Aaron Goldberg playing off of the main melody as
Janisch and drummer
Johnathan Blake provide invigorating accompaniment that is never predictable.
Miles Davis' 1940s bop vehicle "Milestones" has a lighter tone, with guitarist
Phil Robson taking the place of the piano, while the leader, alto saxophonist
Patrick Cornelius, and
Robson shine with their respective solos.
Billy Strayhorn's final work, the piercing ballad "Blood Count," proves especially haunting due to the dramatic spacious introduction that sets it up, with
Goldberg's sparse, dark chords gradually working into the familiar theme, with
Blake's ominous percussion gradually gaining focus as well, while
Janisch plays conservatively. The leader switches to electric bass for
John Coltrane's "Moment's Notice," a surprising duet with
Blake, carried off with skill. Among
Janisch's eight originals, several stand out. The infectious post-bop "Precisely Now" utilizes the twin tenors of Paul Booth and
Walter Smith III with vibist
Jim Hart joining
Janisch and
Blake. The intricate "Pukl-n-Pappo" is a demanding, twisting theme mastered by trumpeter
Jason Palmer and guitarist
Mike Moreno with
Blake and the leader. The driving sextet piece "Beep" is dedicated to the composer's father, a breezy affair with invigorating solos by
Cornelius,
Palmer,
Hart, and
Smith.
Michael Janisch shows a lot of promise with this solid debut effort. ~ Ken Dryden