Painting The Dream
Origin, 2025
9/10
The multi-instrumentalist John Gunther is joined by Dawn Clement and Dru Heller for these 13 tracks that celebrate the memory of the trumpeter Ron Miles.
“In Praise Of Softness” opens and is indeed gentle, where Clement’s pretty, wordless voice is met with Gunther’s mesmerizing sax in the dreamy climate, and “Mother Juggler” follows with Heller’s skilled drumming and Clement’s rich keys amid Gunther’s soulful clarinet.
Near the middle, the rhythmic “Ron Song” is full of soulful sax, crisp drums and elegant keys, while the title track is quite eloquent, and enlists clarinet and flutes for the swirling album highlight.
Arriving near the end, “Elliptical Motion” is drum focused, but also benefits from animated winds and playful keys, and “Bubbles” exits with curious buzzing and an emotive interaction that’s as unpredictable as it is exciting.
An artistic and very colorful effort, Gunther pays tribute to his colleague with charming electronics and lovely textures of timeless jazz sounds.
Travels well with: Anthony Stanco- In The Groove: Live At The Alluvion; Affinity Trio- New Outlook