Double-bass player Linda May Han Oh is renowned for her excellent playing, and this time we had the opportunity to discover the composer and bandleader. Her work with Cuban-American pianist Fabian Almazan (her husband, as it appears) and drummer Mark Whitfield Jr (son of the guitarist who was once a member of the Tonight Show house band) is exciting and adventurous, without abandoning the jazz groove.
There are several rhythmic changes within each work, hatching is part of his compositional language, and everyone’s improvisations are part of this aesthetic. Emitted in conjunction with her large instrument, her vocalizations add depth to her aesthetic, without suggesting exceptional singing.
The double bass playing is always melodic, the articulation exemplary, the sound not extremely rich but well above average. In short, this 40-year-old has become a model of accomplishment, and it’s no surprise that she plays with the best and leads an outstanding band.
As for Fabian Almazan, he’s an excellent pianist (and keyboardist), his angular signature carries beautiful harmonic charges, his phrases are very often singular, he can count on an agile and supple right hand, and you’d have to listen to him more to get a clearer idea of his left hand. Interestingly, he avoids many Latin piano clichés, preferring the jazz tradition as developed in North America with its classical-contemporary extensions.
To round things off, drummer Mark Whitfield Jr. listens attentively to his colleagues and never overdoes it, although this does not rule out a few polyrhythmic virtuosos.
Delayed by twenty minutes or so due to rain on this Wednesday, this 8pm concert was able to finish later, so we were treated to almost the full hour promised. The jazz gods convinced the cloud gods…
