COMPOSERS: Jane Ira Bloom
LABELS: Arabesque
ALBUM TITLE: Jane Ira Bloom
PERFORMER: Jane Ira Bloom (ss, live electronics), Vincent Bourgeyx (p), Mark Dresser (b), Bobby Previte (d)
CATALOGUE NO: AJO 155
Jane Ira Bloom has made yet another beautifully realised album, and seems to grow constantly as a player and composer. She composed ten of the 12 pieces and the remaining two performances are haunting solo soprano saxophone renditions of the standards ‘Bewitched’ and ‘How are Things in Glocca Morra’.
Her rhythm section is excellent, her compositions extremely varied and interesting and some of her audaciously virtuoso themes recall the early work of Warne Marsh and Lee Konitz. The opening ‘Denver Snap’ has a great melody, which is played in unison by soprano and piano, and her solo is passionate and full of surprises.
‘Blue Poles’ has a wonderful melodic fluency and extravagance – it’s all swirling sheets of sound. ‘Without Words’ is played by soprano and bass only and is a sensuous, elegiac piece with an eloquent bass solo. ‘Truth in Timbre’ is a dramatic bravura piece featuring the whole band. This is a rich album.