Project Encore, Vol. 1
Neuma, 2022
8/10
Listen to Project Encore, Vol. 1
Timothy McAllister brings his inimitable, classical sax playing to the stunning piano playing of Liz Ames here, where both minimalism and modernism fill the Latin, jazz, funk and theater nods across these daring 14 tracks.
Nina Shekhar’s “Careful Shouts” opens the listen with unpredictable sax squeals and subtle, atmospheric keys that manipulate space well with a very curious version of jazz, and "Lilac Tears”, by Jennifer Jolley, follows with the dreamy keys and soulful brass building into a soaring display.
Moving on, Griffin Candey’s “Kid Gloves” finds an intimate place to reside, where the poetic sax and gentle keys meet at a stirring intersection, while “Elegy” seems like it could soundtrack a fairy tale with the soothing gestures and very pretty song craft that nearly gets meditative in the Marianne Ploger composition.
Further down the line, the upbeat and lively “Obstacle Illusion” is populated by bright finger acrobatics and complicated sax as the pair do the Zoe Cutler piece justice, and Jim Territo’s “When The Heart Breaks Through” exits with an initial vulnerable quality that segues into a very charming, uplifting finish.
A very unique listen that embraces abstract pop moments as well as rich moments of dramatic swells, McAllister and Ames create a highly atypical version of contemporary classical sounds that requires repeated listens.
Travels well with: Richard Carr- Landscapes And Lamentations; Lawson & Merrill- Signals