New American Hymnal
Outside In, 2023
8/10
The pianist and composer Dave Meder is joined by Philip Dizack, Marty Jaffe, Michael Piolet and Isabel Crespo Pardo for these non-religious worship tracks that embrace much culture and creativity.
“Modern Gothic” starts the listen and wastes little time making an impression with its swirling keys, subdued trumpet from Dizack and Piolet’s very meticulous drumming, and “Invocation (Call To Worship)” follows with just the sublime piano making an indelible impression in under a minute.
“Adortion (Of All That Is Good)” lands at the halfway point, and meshes the keys with Jaffe’s precise bass plucking and soulful brass, while “Chorale (Disillusionment)” takes a darker turn thanks to the strong attention to mood and emotion.
The songs with vocals arrive at the end, where “Hope Is The Thing With Feathers” welcomes Pardo’s gorgeous pipes to the poetic and dreamy landscape, and “Chorale (Press Onward, Abide With Me)” places Meder on vocals for the busiest and most dynamic track present that, despite its density, is quite meticulous.
This is Meder’s 3rd album as leader, and the first with this assembly of musicians, and the themes of faith, hymns and American values mesh with the gospel jazz vision that you can’t not be drawn to.
Travels well with: Clark Sommers- Feast Ephemera; Hazelrigg Brothers- Synchronicity