Guitarist
Amanda Monaco is a rather unusual bandleader. Her second CD marks the reunion of the quartet she formed in the fall of 2001 with tenor saxophonist Jason Gillenwater, bassist Fraser Hollins, and drummer Jeff Davis. Even though
Monaco composed seven of the eight tracks for this session, she frequently cedes the spotlight to Gillenwater's explosive tenor. Her intriguing solos often bring
Jim Hall's work from the late '90s to mind, because she never chooses the predictable path as she weaves her way through each piece. The dirge-like ballad "Tel Aviv I Love Her" sounds as if it were adapted from an ancient Jewish melody but recast in a post-bop setting; Gillenwater switches to clarinet for this hypnotic gem and the rather abstract "Procrastination," which segues directly from "Tel Aviv I Love Her." Her intense "Deadlines Looming" will hit home with anyone who has stayed up late trying to complete a project on time. The lush ballad "My Man Stan" is the most straight-ahead piece of the session, written by
Monaco to honor her grandfather for his 90th birthday (and he must have been pleased when he heard its debut).
Amanda Monaco's compositions take some time to absorb; consider them to be a multi-course gourmet meal for a jazz fan's ears, rather than the all-too-common bland empty-calorie fast food that attempts to pass for creative improvised music. ~ Ken Dryden