in these hills, beyond
Calligram, 2024
9/10
Listen to in these hills, beyond
The trumpeter and composer Chad McCullough is joined by Bram Weijters, Dave Miller, John Christensen and Kobie Watkins for this celebration of life that’s documented across 2 nights of shows in Madison, Wisconsin in 2023.
“Fellowship” opens with Weijters’s mesmerizing keys and Watkins' frisky drumming that resonate with mystery and warmth, and “Imaginary Folk Song” follows with the intimate keys complemented by soulful brass and bouts of lively drums that balances soft and loud bursts.
In the middle we’re treated to “Balance Wheel” and “Handwritten”. The former benefits much from McCullough’s poetic trumpet and Christensen’s agile bass, while the latter is an animated moment of playfully plucked bass, careful brass and much ambience.
Residing close to the end, “Detour” builds into a rich album highlight that’s a bit dreamy and showcases Miller’s fluid guitar, and “Forgotten Dreams” exits with a timeless flavor, where all of the player’s emit their inimitable talents in spades.
The sound quality here is excellent and the songs are, too. There’s much diversity present, as Americana, country, blues and rock ideas all enter these first rate jazz selections.
Travels well with: Geof Bradfield- Colossal Abundance; Kenny Reichert- Switch