John Escreet undertook a pivot point in his career when he put together his L.A.-based trio stocked with L.A. natives. Selecting a crack rhythm section to help him carry out his heady and intoxicating charts, Seismic Shift (2022) was a triumph for the native British pianist and composer who had been around long enough to notch several artistic wins before that. Now, he’s raising his game by adding tenor saxophone master Mark Turner — another L.A. area homeboy — to the working trio with bassist Eric Revis and drummer Damion Reid.
the epicenter of your dreams (June 7, 2024, Blue Room Music) is the first offering from this new, bigger quartet and it would be right in character if Escreet did this to make sure the band and its music doesn’t sag from getting too familiar. Throwing a world-class tenor sax man into the mix is one way to keep it on the edge.
Keeping it on the edge doesn’t necessitate blowing up the old formula, just keep it evolving and supplementing it. “call it what it is” puts the audience on notice that Escreet is still about music that is always in motion, both harmonically and rhythmically. Though it’s a carefully built chart, everyone gets a chance to put their mark on it, including new member Turner, whose advanced lyricism takes something very good and makes it better.
“the epicenter of your dreams” a multi-sectioned, through-composed piece with a mystic quality and balletic playing. “lifeline” is another Escreet-penned tune that’s delightful in the small but stimulating, odd chord progressions and equally satisfying in the high level of musicianship in which it’s played. Ever eager to take chances, Escreet creates “meltdown” with the band as a group improv that’s enhanced by Turner’s melody-centering sax.
“departure no. 1” is another Stanley Cowell cover sourced from the same Cowell solo piano album Musa: Ancestral Stream Seismic Shift‘s “Equipoise” came from. Yet, the arrangement is similar to Cowell’s original modern, post-bop presentation on his Blues For The Viet Cong debut, but with explosive drums from Reid. It’s clear from how well it fits in with the originals that Cowell is a big influence on Escreet. You can really sense that inspiration with “trouble and activity”, which finds Escreet similarly stretching bop and sending it into fresh new zones. Escreet also uses the occasion to lay down some heavy chops.
“erato,” the other cover, comes from another singular and eclectic pianist and composer from the 60s and 70s, Andrew Hill. Escreet sets Turner loose on this sensitive ballad (Hill opted to record this as a trio), and Turner characteristically provides more depth to the song. Revis and Reid superbly keeps the song popping from underneath with their tautness.
John Escreet took his great L.A. group and made it even better for the epicenter of your dreams. Call it addition by sweet addition.
Get your order in for the epicenter of your dreams from Bandcamp.
*** John Escreet CDs on Amazon ***
- McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson – ‘Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs’ (2024) - November 21, 2024
- Lydia Salnikova, “Christmas Means a Different Thing This Year” (2024): One Track Mind - November 19, 2024
- Darius Jones – ‘Legend of e’Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye)’ - November 15, 2024
