Fifth Season
Amalgam, 2020
9/10
A multi-instrumentalist, composer and improviser, Ben Zucker shines bright on this debut as leader where his experimental vision is fleshed out with several of Chicago’s finest improvisers who breathe new life into Zucker compositions that date back to 2014.
The album leads with “Sussurigation A”, where acrobatic vibraphone from Zucker and frisky percussion from Adam Shead contribute to the flowing jazz climate, and this continues to the piano friendly “Fifth Season: I”, where low bass from Eli Namay and moments of bare beauty make an immediate impression.
Elsewhere, “Fifth Season: III” benefits greatly from space and exploration as the players interact dynamically with much precision, while “Fifth Season IV” is ten minutes of unpredictable and exciting instrumentation that’s both stripped back and busy and never short on creativity.
The album finishes with “Sussurigation B”, one of the most exciting selections that flirts with chamber music, and “Sixth Skin Pataforming” exits with a bit of tension and a darker quality with a cinematic appeal that leaves an indelible mark.
Certainly an album worth seeking out if you’re a fan of improvisational jazz, Zucker and company put a very artistic touch on the listen that defies classification, transcends time and fascinates from beginning to end.
Travels well with: Kenny Kotwitz & The LA Jazz Quintet- When Lights Are Low; Jason Kao Hwang- Human Rites Trio