The Speed Of Time
Steeplechase, 2023
8/10
The Canadian saxophonist and composer Andrew Rathbun has two decades under his belt in the area of recording music, and here along with Gary Versace, John Hébert and Tom Rainey he turns in 8 songs that revolves around how the world has existed the last few years.
The title track opens the listen with half the players using four beats and the other half playing in a cycle of 11 beats, as the crisp drums from Rainey are met with warm brass, and “Could It Be” follows with sublime balladry that uses Hébert’s cozy bass strategically.
The halfway point belongs to “Wandering”, where the expressive sax is full of graceful harmony, while “Fast 5th” is indeed full of 5ths on piano as the rhythm sections flirts with reggae ideas.
“Still A Thing” and “Tooth And Nail” exit the listen, as the former offers both tenor and soprano sax amid Versace’s glowing keys, and the latter is a drum focused improvisation that swirls with intrigue.
A listen that’s focused on metric manipulation and harmonics, there’s a nice smattering of abstractness present that makes this listen both creative and timeless.
Travels well with: Marc Copland- Someday; Bellbird- Root In Tandem