Tone Forest
Outside In, 2024
9/10
Miro Sprauge, Marty Jaffe and Jason Ennis come together as Tone Forest for these unique jazz selections that unfold with creativity.
“Oasis” starts the listen with Sprauge’s frisky keys alongside Jaffe’s acrobatic bass lines for the lively delivery, and “A Wave Away” continues that creativity with warm guitar from Ennis, as the sophisticated keys create much gracefulness.
“A Mother Tree” and “Pendulm” land in the middle. The former comes with a sublime intimacy via the cautious keys that builds into a rich demeanor, while the latter swirls with beauty via the precise bass and dreamy guitar before landing in lower registers thanks to the meticulous keys.
“Whirligig” exits the listen, and it’s a rhythmic and atypical venture into jazz ideas that are accomplished, unpredictable an memorable.
An effort that is ebullient, collaborative, and occasionally abstract, the use of both 7 string classical and archtop guitar really adds to the appeal of this distinct jazz experience.
Travels well with: Lucas Pino- Covers; Dial and DeRosa- Keep Swingin’