ROBERT BALZAR — Tales (review)

ROBERT BALZAR — Tales album cover Album · 2008 · Post Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
BlueNote
This Robert Balzar Trio CD is very interesting. It is the product of collaboration of its usual members and a well-known virtuoso guitarist John Abercrombie. Considering that the greatest thing about their other albums is wonderful blend of beautiful piano, inventive drums and masterfully played bass, one will agree that adding a guitar to this equation can only yield something great. And more so, it certainly is not A guitar, it's THE guitar of one of the most thoughtful and musically sensitive guitarists out there. (There's a lesson on improvisation taught by Abercrombie on Youtube, I suggest that you watch it, you will be amazed by the way he approaches his playing)

CD starts off by a piece, that is quite sharp and mellow at the same time. Abercrombie clearly establishes his role in this ensemble and keeps it for the rest of this record composed of both his and Balzar's compositions (with the exception of one standard). Pieces are written very well and guitar really fits them.

I'm not really able to choose my favourite track, they are all great, but apart from the first one, I have to mention "Remember Hymn" and "Night".

Again - this album will not shake the foundations of music but it has such a beautiful atmosphere and is so well executed, you have to give it a try.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Cecil Taylor Unit : Live At Fat Tuesdays, February 9, 1980 First Visit Avant-Garde Jazz
CECIL TAYLOR
Buy this album from MMA partners
Solo Bern 1984 - First Visit Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Bruno Parrinha & Johannes von Buttlar : Whispers and Reveries Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Nuno Torres & Johannes von Buttlar : Cosmic Collision Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Carlos Bechegas, João Madeira & Monsieur Trinité : Free to Open Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Songs My Mom Liked EPK - Anthony Branker
ANTHONY BRANKER
js· 1 day ago
“INFLUENCES” by Jared Hall, trumpeter & composer
JARED HALL
js· 1 day ago
Jean-Pierre (feat. Darryl Jones)
BILL EVANS (SAX)
snobb· 1 day ago
Magic Box
CHRISTOPHE MARGUET
snobb· 1 day ago
The Peacocks
ANTOINE DRYE
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed