Too bad it’s imaginary, because guitarist Reza Khan’s Imaginary Road musical travelogue is full of delights.
He brings in a phalanx of ringers: Guitarist Miles Gilderdale from Acoustic Alchemy, bassist Mark Egan, and synth wizard Philippe Saisse complement Khan’s regular band. The breezy recording is, in fact, similar in tone to Acoustic Alchemy, with chiming keyboards, glistening piano and alternately soothing and buoyant winds supporting the guitars.
The light Latin of much of the music, including the opening tune “Waiting for the Sky,” is derived from the band’s performances in Valencia, Spain, immediately after which it went into the studio to lay down the basic tracks. “Neo Funk” features the bluesy explorations of both Khan and fellow guitarist Miles Gilderdale (Acoustic Alchemy), before a barrage of unison sixteenth notes leads into Matt King’s solo. Philippe Saisse’s rollicking synth solo takes it from there to the refrain of the sixteenth notes to end it. With emphasis.
The gentle and floating “I See Stars” offers a mostly acoustic respite, with airy percussion and bird sounds and David Mann’s flutes. Take a trip down “Seven Miles Road” with King’s ringing piano, before the ending break of syncopated rhythms with Mann’s saxophone and Saisse’s sampled horns. “It’s Happening” kicks off with Mark Egan’s bass lead lines before the tune heads into Pat Metheny territory circa Offramp. Familiar territory for Egan, and Gilderdale taps into Metheny-esque tone before another swirling King solo. His playing isn’t as wistful as that of Lyle Mays, but the comparison is apt.
Contemporary jazz often gets slammed for being too smooth or emphasizing melody in lieu of improvisation. Reza Khan’s Imaginary Road puts the lie to that. Yes, it’s contemporary. No, it’s not bebop. What it really is is melodic, enchanting and richly rewarding.
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