Mike Moreno | Between the Lines – [World Culture Music, 2007]
Mike Moreno, Between the Lines
All too frequently, even the most accomplished and well-received of living jazz artists remain esoteric to the non-jazz aficionado public, save individuals such as
Wynton Marsalis, who has emerged as a pop culture figure in his own right. Instead, Musak-styling murderers
Kenny G. and
Michael Bolton manage to overshadow and poison many a music listener’s perception of current jazz. Fortunately, the presence of New York Times-lauded guitarist
Mike Moreno and his contemporaries, many of whom play on
Between the Lines, may help rekindle the interest from the general public that jazz once commanded and still deserves. When I contacted Moreno recently regarding this recording, in addition to citing jazz musicians, he noted the influences of a multitude from different genres, including
Maurice Ravel, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell (who, incidentally, at one juncture in her career heavily sourced jazz leitmotifs,) and
Radiohead.
Perhaps this explains the variegated nature of the compositions. “Forward and Back” starts with virtuosic guitar playing percolating softly through a crackling texture, suggestive of reminiscence, then switches to the seamless fidelity associated with new experience, rendering it nearly hyperreal. “Gondola” shimmers with an ethereal wistfulness. “Road Song” has a lilting, somewhat dizzying quality, evocative of traveling. These and the rest of the songs blossom fully to the credit of the supporting musicians in addition to Moreno’s serious chops. The other bona fides include Marcus Strickland, Aaron Parks, John Ellis, Doug Weiss, Kendrick Scott, and Tyshawn Sorey, all excellent and independently renown. Pianist Aaron Parks especially stands out on “Still Here,” where the piano and the guitar meld together into a braided candle. That can also be said for the album as a whole: the tinkering sophistication of the melodies and the ample dexterity of the musicians produce the intertwined flame of true art. For any listener, regardless of level of jazz expertise, Between the Lines will sound great and engage. —Alicia Dreilinger / Jezebelmusic.com
Source: mikemoreno.com
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