Play Personnel:Frank Kimbrough-Piano Masa Kamaguchi-Bass Paul Motion-Drums Tracks:Beginning, The Spins, Lucent,Waiting in Santander, Conception Vessel, Jimmy G, Play Regeneration, Little Big Man, Beginning 2

    Frank Kimbrough’s new release entitled, Play, is a project slightly outside his norm, where he usually records with existing groups. Here Kimbrough invites jazz legend Paul Motian and bassist Masa Kamaguchi, a veteran of NYC for the last 10 years for a fresh set of 8 Kimbrough originals and two by Motian.

    If Kimbrough was trying to capture some of the creative feeling of those Bill Evans Trio’s with Motian, in my mind he was successful. The music is open and reactionary. It’s structure lies very much within what the musicians themselves can bring to the compositions. There is much counterpoint and cross communication which happens throughout this recording. What intrigues me, is how each musician produces wonderful sound and timbre as the music follows open improvisational sections.

    The liner notes indicate that Motion wanted no written music for this session. Motian had only needed to hear the tunes once before the recording took place. The magic then occurred by Kimbrough, Kamaguchi and Motian’s ability to listen and communicate musical language effectively. This is the power of the recording. Not necessarily any particular way the compositions were written. Not rich harmonies (although some exist), but the ability to communicate and translate each other’s emotional input to the music.

It is quite brilliant and effectively translated to the listener. For the element of spontaneity is ever present. It has contrasting moments in each and every composition. Their ability to listen to one another translates into a musical journey for the serious of jazz listeners. Even if one does not understand the musical mechanics of this style of music, one will still appreciate the innate beauty of this project.

My ultimate test for any recording is, will I come back for more listens? I love this record, and I come back to this recording because it has a “live” quality to it. The music has layers to it, because of the unique roles the three ultimately take. It’s structure lies so much within the precept of a lack of formality that ultimately has precise starts and ends! Bravo guys!!
For more information about the music of Frank Kimbrough, please visit: FrankKimbrough.com