Ian Wardenski Quintet

Trust

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Trust

A theorist, composer, guitarist and educator, Ian Wardenski is joined by Mercedes Beckman (alto sax), Jerry Ascione (piano), Amy Shook (bass), Frank Russo (drums) and Tamara Tucker (vocals) for this chamber influenced jazz affair.

“Before Long” gets the listen off to a frisky, dynamic start with wordless vocals, lively drumming and plenty of animated sax playing, and “Curiosity” follows with agile piano and plenty of rhythm that’s delivered with style and playfulness.

In the middle, “Trust” showcases Tucker’s gorgeous pipes alongside spirited guitar work in the reflective climate, while “Necessity Needs Another Mother” is a bit more firm with some rock’n’roll influence amid the creative bass lines.

“Matching Energies Modulus” exits the listen with 3 segments, where it starts with animated drumming and continues with bright brass and soaring vocal acrobatics. By the time we’re at the end, it’s steeped in free jazz exploration that you can’t help but admire.

A very precise listen that uses traditional elements while being heavy on texturing and atypical rhythm, Wardenski and company pen an album that all fans of modern jazz will enjoy immensely.

Travels well with: Kenny Shanker- Vortex; Joe LoCascio- Book Of Days