Circuitous is an album by jazz pianist Pandelis Karayorgis, which was recorded in 2012 and released on Driff, an artist-run label co-founded by Karayorgis and Jorrit Dijkstra. He leads a new band with four Chicago-based musicians: saxophonists Dave Rempis and Keefe Jackson, bassist Nate McBride and drummer Frank Rosaly. Karayorgis explains that Tony Williams' seminal album Spring inspired the instrumentation for this project, a quintet with two tenors as the main horns.Circuitous at Pandelis Karayorgis
Reception
In a double review for Down Beat Josef Woodard notes that "the Chicago-based quintet steers perceptions toward comparisons to classic jazz quintet paradigm, different in form and function though it may be."Woodard, Josef. Circuitous review. Down Beat February 14: page 91. Print.
The All About Jazz review by Glenn Astarita states "Never one to run short on creative sparks, the pianist is a sly arranger, and these works are asymmetrically synched within organization and improvisation. Moreover, several of these pieces are influenced by Thelonious Monk, primarily from an unconventional rhythmic standpoint amid odd-metered expressionism."Astarita, Glenn. Circuitous review at All About Jazz
The Point of Departure review by Troy Collins says "Karayorgis' Chicago quintet offers an intriguing alternative to his Boston-based ensemble, System Of 5. Similar, but distinct from its East Coast counterpart, the lineup documented on Circuitous explores territory consistent with Karayorgis' oeuvre, which demonstrates a masterful reinvention of post-bop vernacular, expertly balancing the accessibility of the mainstream with the vitalizing freedom of the avant-garde."Collins, Troy. Circuitous review at Point of Departure
Track listing All compositions by Pandelis Karayorgis "Undertow" – 6:04 "Nudge" – 6:30 "Swarm" – 9:37 "Circuitous" – 5:30 "Vortex" – 8:52 "Evenfall" – 4:36 "Blue Line" – 9:15 "Here in July" – 5:18 "Souvenir" – 5:26
Personnel Dave Rempis – tenor sax, alto sax, baritone sax Keefe Jackson – tenor sax, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet Pandelis Karayorgis – piano Nate McBride – bass Frank Rosaly – drums
References