Earthshine
Origin, 2022
8/10
Santosh Sharma (tenor sax), Noah Halpern (trumpet), Dylan Hayes (piano), Martin Budde (guitar), Ben Feldman (bass) and Xavier Lecouturier (drums), i.e. Meridian Odyssey, fleshed these 9 originals out in Alaska in August 2021, where 6 days of focused rehearsals yielded a powerful and creative body of work.
“XD” opens the listen with firm keys, as crisp drumming and playful bass enters alongside the soulful brass in the agile climate, and “Tuesday Wednesday” follows with a calm, stirring setting that blends the gentle textures fluidly.
“Behind The Mirror” arrives near the middle and moves with a frisky spirit of radiant and meticulous songwriting, while “Song For Jovino” brings mandolin into the equation, and benefits much from the dynamic rhythm section and glowing trumpet prowess.
“Reflecting” and “Earthshine” arrive near the end, where the former offers a bit of mystery in the cinematic demeanor, and the latter showcases the acrobatic drumming amid the bright horns and intricate guitar work.
An absorbing listen that’s capable of being intense but can also retreat to balladry, Meridian Odyssey make the most of every gesture here, and it’s very much appreciated and enjoyed.
Travels well with: Dmitri Matheny- Cascadia; Hugo Fernandez- Ozean