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Dan Bruce's Beta Collective: Earthshine
ByThe album's title-track opener highlights the expansive course Bruce's compositions can take. Built on an inviting melodic foundation, the 13-minute piece covers a lot of ground, with a strong groove and well-executed time-signature shifts that spark a dynamic, yearning solo from Bruce and an even wider-ranging one from trumpeter Russ Johnson during a pensive rubato section that quickly enters more fervid territory, as the band once again re-establishes the groove and Johnson surges over it.
For compositions with this kind of restless energy, a top-notch rhythm team is crucial, and Bruce has one: keyboardist Rob Clearfield, bassist Clark Sommers, and drummer Jon Deitemyer manage to strike the perfect balance between precision and finesse. And they highlight the way this band plays together as a band: their interaction with tenor saxophonist Chris Madsen during his spunky solo on "Lapse" is an excellent example of how to elevate and magnify a soloist's statement.
But it's not just the tight rapport and strong solos that give this album its distinctive flavor. Bruce's willingness to open up the music in unexpected ways allows "Major_Chord" to transition from bouncy swing to an unstructured section in which Madsen and Johnson can engage in a free exchange of ideas, before the rest of the band re-enters and Bruce spurs the two to even greater heights with some gritty interjections of his own. And the album's closer, "Greatest Hit #1" is another 13- minute journey with more subtle surprises: a melancholy, moody theme which simultaneously pulses with a seething intensity, fueled by Deitemyer's kaleidoscopic drumming and Bruce's electronic embellishments. The piece epitomizes Bruce's ability to craft listener-friendly music that can still offer plenty to challenge and intrigue those wanting a bit more than just a pleasant listen.
Track Listing
Earthshine; Reprieve:Reprise; Lapse; Ice (No. 2); Sofa; Major_ Chord; Greatest Hit #1.
Personnel
Daniel Bruce
guitarDan Bruce: guitar, effects, compositions; Russ Johnson: trumpet; Chris Madsen: tenor saxophone; Rob Clearfield: piano, Fender Rhodes; Clark Sommers: bass; Jon Deitemyer: drums.
Album information
Title: Earthshine | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: ears&eyes Records
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