Winterreise
Self-Released, 2020
8/10
The jazz ensemble Madre Vaca take on quite a project here by reworking 10 tunes from Franz Schubert’s Winterreise that were rebuilt for a modern jazz template by pianist and drummer Benjamin Shorstein.
“Good Night” starts the listen with keys and guitar interacting playfully as horns enter the avant-garde equation, and “The Weathervane” continues with a swift pace and busy display of chamber jazz energy that’s also dramatic.
Halfway through, “The Gray Head” finds a calm place to reside as warm guitar from Jarrett Carter and spirited keys from Jonah Pierre highlight the mood, while “The Crow” moves with plenty of rhythm where brass and percussion work together dynamically. “The Last Hope”, one of the album highlights, then showcases all sorts of progressive ideas amid a driving- almost reckless- environment that could very well be improvised.
Close to the end, “The Sun Dogs” emits sublime piano balladry as powerful vocals enter the emotive climate, and “The Hurdy-Gurdy Man” finishes out the listen with experimental and flowing jazz ideas in the multifaceted approach.
Even though they’re still a relatively new outfit, Madre Vaca have quickly impressed many with their unpredictable song craft, and one not need to know anything about Franz Schubert to enjoy these nearly 200 year old tunes that are reinvented with thriving and unique jazz prowess that few could replicate.
Travels well with: John Finbury- Quatro; -Vanderlei Pereira And Blindfold Test- Vision For Rhythm