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The Claudia Quintet: Super Petite
ByThe same light fluid approach appears again (and to slightly better results) in "Peterborough" later on, while the group alternates those airy moments with other stylistic explorations in between. The sparse-yet-busy "A-List" leans more on rhythm and groove, staying in 7/8 just to keep things from getting too straightforward, while "Philly" spices up their laid-back dreaminess with a dash of classic Blue Note bop. The circular patterns of Western minimalism sit happily alongside gamelan-like layers of rhythms. The band's drummer/leader John Hollenbeck weaves melodies in ways that really should sound more awkward than they are, but the built-in flow and the quintet's delivery are both smooth enough to keep it all easy on the ears.
Hollenbeck leans toward brevity more than usual with Super Petite. There's a little extra stretching through the complex jaunt of "Rose-Colored Rhythm"; otherwise it's sketched around pieces of five minutes or less, nudging everyone to keep the fun interplay alive without losing too much focus. With the telepathy of longtime bandmates, the players juggle the two seamlessly enough to find an adventurous middle ground between structured and formless. This is one for the mind more than the feet, a pleasant listen for a cocktail party of the quirkiest kind.
Track Listing
Nightbreak; JFK Beagle; A-List; Philly; Peterborough; Rose Colored Rhythm; If You Seek A Fox; Pure Poem; Newark Beagle; Mangold.
Personnel
John Hollenbeck
drumsChris Speed: clarinet, tenor saxophone; Red Wierenga: accordion, piano; Drew Gress: acoustic bass; Matt Moran: vibraphone; John Hollenbeck: drums, composition.
Album information
Title: Super Petite | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Cuneiform Records