JACEK KOCHAN — New Expensive Head (review)

JACEK KOCHAN — New Expensive Head album cover Album · 2003 · Nu Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
snobb
Jacek Kochan is possibly one of the most technical Polish jazz drummers. All of his solo releases are complex multilayered pre-composed music, usually seriously influenced by modern avant-garde jazz and NY down-town eclectic fusion.

"New Expensive Head" is a true Kochan's album by it's complexity (and melodic component), but it represents the composer/drummer's interest in nu jazz as well. Jacek usually uses electronic devices, but here you can hear really a lot of them! Another huge nu jazz element is Molvaer's guitarist Eivind Aarset's liquid guitar filling all the space around. If on his solo releases Aarset usually goes deeper into ambient guitar sound experimentation (and often misses rhythmical structure of his music at all), here on Kochan's album his guitar is at all times framed by the complex rhythms of Kochan's drums and electronics.

Another great musician who collaborated on this album is South Korea-born US-based trumpeter Cuong Vu (one of the most interesting modern US trumpeters, mixing electric period Miles legacy with NY downtown atmosphere on his solo albums). He adds excellent free jazz trumpet solos over Kochan and Aarset's liquid pulsations. The fourth quartet member is Polish sax player Skerik, adding Coltrane sensitivity to the musical mix.

All of the album's compositions are complex and require repeat listening, but at the same time, they can also sound quite catchy the first time around. Excellent musical brew on the border between nu jazz and NY downtown tradition.
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