Christopher Dammann Sextet
Out Of Your Head, 2025
9/10
Listen to Christopher Dammann Sextet
The always unpredictable bassiest Christopher Dammann is joined by 5 equally exciting musicians for these 6 avant-garde and improvised tracks that are fusion at its finest.
“If I Could Time Travel I Would Mend Your Broken Heart AKA Why Did The Protests Stop” leads, and allows for Dammann’s strategic bass to set the tone alongside Edward Wilkerson, Jr’s moody clarinet and Mabel Kwan’s atmospheric keys, and “Song For Mabel” follows with a distinct ambience that builds into a busy climate via James Davis’ trumpet and Scott Clark’s animated drums.
“No Hope At All Other Than I Don’t Want To Die Today - Part 1” arrives in the middle and offers a scrappy version of jazz that’s infectious and firm, while “No Hope At All Other Than I Don’t Want To Die Today - Part 2” finds calmer areas to reside in, as Jon Irabagon’s cozy sax guides the intimate delivery.
The last track, “When I was Young and My Heart Had Windows”, is also impressive, and moves with quick and lively gestures thanks to scrappy drums, fast sax, rowdy keys and skilled bass
Dammann has been creating records for about fifteen years, initially as a member of 3.5.7 Ensemble and recently as the leader of Restroy. This first one under his own name carries themes of time travel, is never short on solos and both forward and backward gestures from the sextet that you can’t not be in awe of.
Travels well with: Adam O’Farrill- For These Streets; Nick Dunston- Colla Voce