Unwelt
Neuma, 2025
9/10
The pianist and composer Denman Maroney is joined by Scott Walton, Robin Fincker, Samuel Silvant and Guillaume Orti for these 9 jazz and classically spirited tracks.
“Andale/Simplexity” opens with Orti and Fincker’s swirling saxophones that radiate much playfulness, and “Iteratio” follows with Maroney’s warm keys amid a melodic ambience.
“Isotrope” and “Lilt” land in the middle. The former carries a soulful spirit thanks to the reserved winds, while the latter emits frisky progressions from Maroney’s fingers that make for an infectious mood before the band’s rich interaction enters.
The title track arrives late and makes great use of Silvant’s skilled drumming via plenty of timeless jazz nods, and “Rolling Evermore” exits with Walton’s well timed bass alongside 7+ minutes of exploration and strategic repetition.
This is Maroney’s 3rd album since relocating to France from New York, and the title refers to the perceptive capacities of species in German. Maroney puts that idea to use with these harmonic and rhythmic selections that are unpredictable and inviting from beginning to end.
Travels well with: Percussia- Murmuration; Phillip Schroeder- Radiance Within