Decorating Time
Ears And Eyes, 2021
9/10
The North Carolina guitarist and composer James Gilmore brings along Butler Knowles and Kassem Williams for this guitar fueled jazz and blues adventure that offers us 9 originals and 1 very creative cover.
The title track occupies the lead off spot, and brings intricate, bluesy guitar into Williams’ very skilled drumming as a very spirited version of jazz is cultivated, and “Ding, Dong” follows with bouncy, playful bass lines from Knowles complementing the tumbling drums and animated guitar that bops fluidly.
The remainder of the album is equally well thought out, and includes the charming progression of “Stairs I”, that’s as hypnotic as it is memorable, while “The Soul Is A Lattice” builds into a dynamic and fascinating display of firm and adventurous song craft.
Arriving near the end, “Vulture And Cockroach” has the trio interacting with incredible precision that yields flowing melodies amid much grace, and Willie Nelson’s “Crazy” exits the listen with a unique ambience, where the bare beauty glows amid a stylish and innovative interpretation that gets a bit haunting, too.
An album rich in its vision and executed with avant-garde moments and plenty of innovative jazz exploration, Gilmore, Butler and Knowles possess a rare chemistry, and the energy that spawns from it is undeniably infectious.
Travels well with: Lauren Lee- Queen Of Cups; Noa Fort- Everyday Actions