|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Toronto's Dan Pitt Quintet announces their second album of polymorphous jazz, Canadian tour Guitarist and composer Dan Pitt has been a vital force in the Canadian jazz and improvised music landscape for the good part of a decade now. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Pitt now lives and works in Toronto, where he performs regularly in a variety of music genres and groups. He also ventures further afield within Canada and to the USA, working alongside a varied cast of musicians that has included Pat Collins, David Braid, Terry Promane, Andrew Downing, Terry Clarke, Dave Young, Lina Allemano, Tim Berne, Michael Attias and Michael Formanek. 2019 marked the release of his debut recording as leader, Fundamentally Flawed, where he was found fronting his trio alongside bassist Alex Fournier (Triio, Picastro, Fortunato Durutti Marinetti and the Sunsetters Band) and drummer Nick Fraser (Kris Davis, Eucalyptus, Tony Malaby). Since then, he has released a solo album, another trio disc in 2023, while also augmenting the trio's instrumentation with brilliant reeds players Naomi McCarroll-Butler (Alto Saxophone and Bass Clarinet) and Patrick Smith (tenor and soprano saxophone). Horizontal Depths is the second release from said quintet, and where their first saw them interpreting pieces from Pitt's expansive existing repertoire, this new album largely features work that was generated expressly for the ensemble. The title (and that of its titular compositions) is an homage to the late jazz legend Phil Nimmons, with whom Pitt studied composition during his time at University of Toronto. One of the enduring contributions that Nimmons made to Pitt's artistic growth was to steer him beyond his vertical, harmony-centric orientation and toward the dynamic interplay of individual lines. In fact, an early version of the piece "Horizontal Depths" itself was originally submitted as part of Pitt's class with Nimmons, initially bearing only "Depths" as its name. When Pitt got it back from his instructor, he noticed Nimmons had written "Horizontal or Vertical?" next to its title. The album's name isn't simply a nod to Nimmons' insights, it serves as an apt description of its compositional focus. Full of pithy, interlocking figures and melodies that span the range from singable to perplexing, it's music that's clearly propelled by strong linear motion. Even with something like the wafting balladry of "The Sorrow, " Pitt seldom comps in a straightforward manner. Instead he intertwines with the phrases of his fellow players, while providing various kinds of punctuation. Its emphasis on the line also extends to its contrapuntal treatment of style. Jazz clearly provides a certain foundation for Horizontal Depths, however Pitt also positions several other genres in dialogue with one another. The energetic opener "27 Hours" begins with a bold, syncopated melody that suggests assertive post-minimalism as much as it does Balkan rave-up, and as his bandmates weave their way through it improvisationally, further elements enter the fray. Pitt's elegant multi-part forms and refined sense of ensemble colours often gestures in the direction of modern chamber writing, but there are also audible elements of things such as angular, heavy rock (spoiler alert: the explosions on "This Is Fine"). Even folk and abstract electronica become fleeting touchstones at points. Weighing in at a slim 41 minutes, Horizontal Depths is a concentrated and vibrant statement—both from one of Canadian jazz's most imaginative compositional voices and one the country's tautest, most invigorating ensembles. Dan Pitt holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance Jazz from the University of Toronto. His mentors both within and beyond the school have included such revered artists as David Restivo, Geoff Young, Jim Lewis, Terry Promane, Mike Murley, Phil Nimmons. Brad Shepik, Tony Malaby, Ben Monder and David Torn. The year of his graduation, he was presented the Stingray Rising Star Award as part of the Jazz Youth Summit at the Ottawa Jazz Festival. His work has since been recognized through grants from funding bodies like the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. Catch the Dan Pitt Quintet touring in support of Horizontal Depths from November onwards: November 17th & 18th- The Rex Hotel (Toronto) November 20th - Tyrant Studios (Vancouver) November 22nd - Yardbird Suite (Edmonton) November 23rd - Bassment (Saskatoon) November 24th - Highline Brewing - Bug Incision (Calgary) November 26th - Tranzac - Nick Fraser Presents (Toronto) January 11th - Open Waters Festival (Halifax) write your comments about the article :: © 2024 Jazz News :: home page |