Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tamil Rogeon: Son Of Nyx

7

Tamil Rogeon: Son Of Nyx

By

Sign in to view read count
Tamil Rogeon: Son Of Nyx
An energetic, modal, fusion release coming out of the alternative jazz scene in Melbourne, Australia, Son of Nyx is a good album which almost succeeds in being more than that, but, frustratingly, does not achieve lift-off until the closing track, "Horns No Eyes."

Tamil Rogeon first surfaced as co-leader of the jazz and hip hop-influenced, orchestral-electronic group The Raah Project, which debuted on disc in 2009 with Score (Knowfoowl Music), recorded with a cast of thousands (well, a twenty-two horns plus seventeen strings ensemble). Son Of Nyx was made with a smaller lineup but with similarly transgressive ambitions.

On the self-produced album, Rogeon exchanges his violin for its close relation, the viola, a bigger instrument with a heavier sound. There is a relatively small repertoire for the viola in classical music and a practically non-existent jazz discography. (In this, the viola reminds one of the description so beloved by theatre PRs, "a rarely performed opera." There is a good reason why most of these are rarely performed and it is not because no-one can find the score). Rogeon's album is, until the aforementioned "Horns No Eyes," at eleven minutes its longest track but one which ends all too soon, too dynamically and texturally samey. It begs for a producer who can stand back and cut through the busy keyboards and multiplicity of ideas to create more light and shade. Rogeon has mapped out a venturesome trajectory, however, which he could fruitfully develop.

Another ambitious, but more successful, string instrument jazz-fusion album, by the way, is German violinist Johanna Burnheart's Burnheart (Ropeadope), which was released at the end of 2020. It inhabits the intersection of jazz and Berlin techno and was produced by London trumpeter and studio wizard Noel Langley. If you have not heard it yet, do yourself a favour. And look out for Norwegian violinist Ola Kvernberg's jazz and techno lightning bolt Steamdome II: The Hypogean (Grappa), coming soon to blow your mind.

Track Listing

House No Wheels; Band Sandals; Banished; Momus; Mount Olympus; Horns No Eyes.

Personnel

Additional Instrumentation

Tamil Rogeon: viola, ARP Odyssey; Sam Keevers: Helpenstill piano, ARP Odyssey solo; Daniel Mougerman: Helpinstill piano, ARP Odyssey solo (2, 5); Sam Anning: double bass; Danny Fischer: drums; Javier Fredes: percussion; Allysha Joy: vocals; Jace XL: vocals; Ladi Tiaryn Griggs: vocals; Rita Satch: vocals (2, 5).

Album information

Title: Son Of Nyx | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Soul Bank

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.