Nomadic
Changes, 2023
8/10
The exceptional guitarist Tomas Janzon pens a calm jazz affair of originals and songs by Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner and Lee Konitz, where 2 different rhythm sections help the listen unfold with much beauty and grace.
The dreamy “Out Door Valley” opens the listen with Steven Nelson’s lively vibraphone and Hilliard Greene’s precise bass plucking complementing Janzon’s shimmering guitar, and “Rob’s Piano” follows with Chuck McPherson’s agile drumming helping cultivate a very stylish and warm jazz climate amid the playful bass and spirited guitar.
“Search For Peace” lands in the middle, and features Tony Austin’s strategic drumming and Jeff Littleton’s frisky bass for the album’s best, while the jazz waltz, “Valse Hot”, picks up the pace a bit with swift, meticulous guitar that suits the animated rhythm section.
The album exits with “Blue Frog Return” and “Pressing Forward”, where the former has the guitar and bass interacting with much dynamic, thoughtful song craft that swings gently, and the latter finishes with a mesmerizing energy of adventurousness and control, where Janzon, Austin and Littleton make for a very collaborative vision.
This is Janzon’s 6th album as leader, and it documents 2020-2021 with intimacy and inventiveness, where the esteemed help he brings only adds that much more intrigue to these 11 memorable tracks.
Travels well with: Dave Stryker- Prime; Jared Gold- Reemergence