Dream Chaser
Amp, 2022
9/10
Although he’s just 23 years old, Nikola Bankov plays alto sax like a seasoned vet, and here along with an all-star cast he fleshes out 8 very daring and exciting jazz-rock pieces you won’t soon forget.
“Soul Purpose” starts the listen with Blac El’s rapping alongside warm sax and playful drumming in the exciting jazz climate, and “Dream Chaser” follows with Randy Brecker’s bright trumpet adding much to the booming atmosphere.
Halfway through, “Sketch 1” showcases elegant sax in a dreamy landscape, while “Heaven On Earth” spends 6 minutes mesmerizing us with its smooth brass, crisp drums and acrobatic bass lines.
Near to the end, “Sketch 2” recruits an other worldly appeal with its jazz fusion prowess, and “In The Zone” exits the listen with no shortage of grooves entering the dynamic and flowing finish.
A powerful and often exhilarating experience, the punk rock and electronic stabs sure do make for a unique body of work that clearly places Bankov in a league all his own.
Travels well with: Anthony Fung- What Does It Mean; The Andy Rothstein Band- Truth Against The World