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Greg Ward: Stomping Off From Greenwood
ByWith rhythmic atmospherics and reverberant dual six-string manipulations, Rogue Parade (the quintet's official tag) make gutsy Ward compositions like "Excerpt 1," the precariously grooved "The Contender," and "The Fourth Reverie" swell into their wildly eclectic, aggressive selves, highlighting Ward's fluid sense of melodic line and spacious, ensemble based, writing style. On "Let Him Live" Ward moves stealthily in and out of the mix, choosing instead for the song to become a pulsing see-saw creationthe rhythm section up one moment and the guitarists up the next, creating an oddly meditative, if not openly hypnotic effect.
Ulery opens the especially broad "Black Woods" with a nimble, rich pizzicato giving way to bowing as the track comes into being, seemingly from some astral plane only these players are keenly attuned to. Miller and Gold filigree in and around around Ward's ebullient solos or dance in tandem with the leader as Kirchner rumbles and rides completing the group synergy. At eleven minutes plus, "Pitch Black Promenade" is a vivid, vital montage, taking in all the musical and virtuoso elements presented before it then allowing them to weave and ramble, expand, and withdraw quietly. An effortlessly bright, inventive pop/rock take on "Stardust" of all things follows, before Ward closes out this totally engaging installment of his artistic growth with the glimmering translucence and melodic build of "Sundown."
Track Listing
Metropolis; Excerpt 1; The Contender; The Fourth Reverie; Let Him Live; Black Woods; Pitch Black Promenade; Stardust; Sundown.
Personnel
Greg Ward
saxophoneGreg Ward: alto saxophone; Matt Gold: guitar, effects; Dave Miller: guitar, effects; Matt Ulery: acoustic guitar, electric bass; Quin Kirchner, drums.
Album information
Title: Stomping Off From Greenwood | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Greenleaf Music