We’ve Got Nothing
Self-Released, 2023
9/10
The Toronto quartet of Trevor Hogg, Don Scott, Michael Herring and Nick Fraser, as Peripheral Vision they pen groove filled, toe-tapping and progressive jazz that unfolds across 7 exciting songs here.
“Close The Paper And Play” opens the listen with Hogg’s soulful tenor sax and Fraser’s frisky drums making for a stylish and energetic delivery, and “Standing On Two Feet” follows with Herring’s precise bass plucking amid an intimate climate of warmth.
In the middle, “Cone Of Silence” radiates a calm melody via the meticulous sax and Scott’s reflective guitar lines, while “Goodbye Heintzmen” displays the playful rhythm section alongside the inviting and dynamic guitar playing from Scott’s fingers.
The final track, “The Mash Has Become The Face”, balances calm moments with busier bouts of creative and rich jazz ideas that make great use of the thumping drums and mesmerizing brass.
This is Peripheral Vision’s 2nd live album and 6th release overall, and it brings together pieces recorded over 4 months when the pandemic subsided, and represents 15 years of playing and touring together. The sound quality is excellent, as is the playing, and the meshing of jazz, rock, classical and improv holds our attention attentively.
Travels well with: Jesse Dietschi Trio- Gradient; Teri Parker- Shaping The Invisible