Hadal
Silver Phantom, 2023
8/10
An eclectic instrumental album from the Austin, Texas outfit Atlas Maior, the partnership between Joshua Thomson and Josh Peters tip their hat to Jazz, Arab, Turkish and Latin American musical traditions across these 4 tracks.
“Basalt” begins the listen with Thomson’s lively sax and Peters’ warm oud alongside frisky drums for the African and Arabian influenced song craft, and “Ignis Fatuus” follows with a calmer approach of soulful sax and unpredictable atmosphere of the improvised jazz spirit.
On the back half, “Hadal” is quite mesmerizing thanks to Tarik Hassan’s playful double bass playing, while “Fata Morgana” exits with a nostalgic version of jazz inspired by New York’s Loft Jazz, and is quite busy, dynamic and exciting.
Aaron Parks and Stefan Del Bosque handle drums on the recording, and they do a great job of anchoring the diverse, moody and rhythmic ideas populating the cultured affair.
Travels well with: Frederico7- Exotico Americano; Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah- AXIOM