Jazz experimentalists - Essay Example

On a track called ‘Blue Eyes’, Bradford and his accompanying band expertly meld individual instrumental artistry with warm and lush melodies to create an inviting, yet wholly unique jazz experience. The track features Douglas Bradford on guitar, Chris Ward on tenor saxophone, Peter Schwebs on bass, and Luc Decker on drums, and starts with Bradford’s skilled virtuosity on the guitar. Shortly, afterward Chris Ward joins in on tenor and offers a nice counterpoint to Bradford’s syncopation.

While Bradford displays his considerable skill on the guitar, his sound never loses touch with the audience and is always underlined by a soothing melodic element. Perhaps was greatest about the band’s sound is the seamless transitions they exhibit. Bradford’s guitar playing gives way to Ward’s saxophone and rather than sounding forced, the quick pause shows the band makes excellent use of the in-between times and silences. Ward’s saxophone is part John Coltrane part Miles Davis. As he weaves in and out of skilled improvisations, and contemplative ballads, it’s almost as if he is serenading the listener` at midnight.

The band’s sound is sure to never fall into a lull however, and just as the listener begins to fall into a trance, they are quickly punctured by an off-setting pitch, or sharp burst of melody. While the percussion is never overly obtrusive, neither does it merely keep pace. The nature of the band’s sound is such that stylistic flourishes occur, in however a subtle fashion. This is perhaps the most accurate way to categorize their drums. At times they rely on stark minimalism to seduce the listener into the sinuous sonic journey, and at other times they are capable of stylistic flourishes that leave the listener calling for a long extended drum solo.

In all they stand as virtuously proud as any other component of the band’s sound. While the individual features of Bradford’s sound are too be recognized for their excellence, it’s