Journey to the Center of Everything

Sam Crowe Group – Journey to the Centre of Everything

(Whirlwind WR 4632 / 1st May Vortex. CD and launch review by Alison Bentley)

One of pianist Sam Crowe’s compositions is called Gaia, referring to the idea of the Earth as a living, self-regulating being. It’s a good way to describe a jazz group: musicians listening to each other and responding with subtle adjustments to Crowe’s beautiful writing. As Adam Waldmann’s soprano soared over Crowe’s brimming arpeggios, there were ghosts of British folk music haunting Robert Glasper-like repeated chord. There were strong (acoustic) Glasper influences throughout. When soloing, Crowe seemed to defer to the band’s whole sound, using chords and arpeggios rather than virtuosic flourishes. But in Gaia he extended, too, into some exquisite Herbie Hancock-style runs.

Several tunes referred to the idea of re-creation; what Crowe has called ‘micro-universes’- but introduced with disarming humour. In Journey to the Centre of Everything, he had a wonderful way of releasing tense modal chords with rock changes. You might think that such an organic approach to music would require acoustic instruments- but Will Davies’ electric guitar, with distortion in the sound, brought a distinctive and personal voice. He has his own style, not bluesy, but expressive, with hints of Kurt Rosenwinkel and Wolfgang Muthspiel.

https://londonjazznews.com/2013/05/04/combined-review-sam-crowe-group-journey-to-the-centre-of-everything-cd-plus-launch-gig-vortex/