Max Gerl
JMI, 2023
9/10
An adventurous solo album from the bass extraordinaire Max Gerl, the 10 originals and lone cover here were recorded straight to 2 track tape, where the bass legend Stanley Clarke helps illuminate Gerl’s creative mind.
“Patience To Find The Start Of The Journey’s Path” opens the listen with the meticulous and warm bass playing that emits much melody, and “Jimmy’s House Painting” follows with swift and complicated string manipulation that’s quite mesmerizing in its delivery.
In the middle, “Contradiction” and “Allegro” are both improvised, where the former showcases dynamic finger acrobatics from Gerl, and the latter gets bouncy with an infectious energy you can’t help but admire.
Arriving near the end, the calmer beauty of “Let’s Cool One” emits a nice balance of space and gracefulness, and “Postlude”, by Thelonious Monk, is an improvised exit of gentle, focused and unpredictable song craft.
This is Gerl’s sophomore album, and it’s full of intimate and playful gestures that precisely demonstrates the abilities of his instrument with an attention to detail that few others could replicate.
Travels well with: Matt Ulery- Mannerist; The Adam Larson Trio- With Love, From Chicago