The Transcendal
Steeplechase, 2024
8/10
The pianist Nicki Adams and saxophonist Michael Eaton come together for these selections that honor the work of Coltrane, Hancock, Shorter, Monk, Hill and Hagans.
“Crying Out In The Wilderness” starts with Adams’ swift keys and Eaton’s sax acrobatics that meet at an exciting and unpredictable intersection, and “Intrinsic Value” follows with the soulful wind and meticulous keys that suit one another’s agile and flowing nature.
Further along, the mesmerizing spirit of “Black Narcissus” pairs the rich keys with cozy sax, while “Afro Centric” is both intimate and adventurous, where Eaton’s complicated progressions are particularly luminous.
Close to the end, the dizzying “Inner Urge” illustrates both player’s strong attention to detail and adaptability, and the title track exits with 6 chapters of sublime beauty and cautious interaction between the duo’s inimitable abilities.
A record that embraces minimal moments, harmonic color, and strong emphasis on meter and polyrhythmic ideas, Adams and Eaton make for a worldly and progressive jazz affair.
Travels well with: Michael O’Neill- Arrival; Tom Maor- Dunes