Debra Jan Bibel

22 Feb 2019

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel for Amazon.com

Title: Musical Explorations of Hues

**** Moscow State Conservatory-trained Yelena Eckemoff has entitled her newly released album “Colors” and I immediately thought of Ken Nordine’s own series of spoken jazz on his series of brief witticisms on hues. Eckemoff with drummer Manu Katché take on 14 colors (including black and white), and package notes have her poetic associations of each. That colors have innate psychological qualites beyond cultural references was recognized in ancient times by yoga masters and in modern times by painters Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. Although raised in classical music, Eckemoff has an interest in rock and free jazz; thus these tracks are atmospheric and moody but with lyricism and stylistic complexity (‘orchestral color’ is another use of the term). The given colors are arranged to reflect life events from birth to death, with education, love, emotional dictates, and mature re-evaluations between. Some pieces are full of rhythmic energy (as Orange, Indigo, and Red) while others resemble shadowed classical etudes (Blue, Bordeaux, and Yellow); Green is interpreted as an amble; Brown is an autumn waltz. Each piece has many ever-changing subsections as separate associations and are similar to Keith Jarrett’s stream of consciousness concerts. Drummer Katché deserves particular attention as his ornamentation well matches the piano improvisations and increase interest. Listening to this 80-minute album is akin to a musical meditation on what the titled colors mean to the listener.

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22 Sep 2018

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel for Amazon.com

Better Than Gold And Silver Amazon, Debra Jan Bibel

Title: Religious Jazz Lieder/Sacred Improvisations

****1/2 & **** With already some 16 albums, the classically trained pianist (Moscow State Conservatory) but free jazz and religious composer Yelena Eckemoff has issued another album to continue her niche studies. This one has two CDs, one being the purely instrumental version of the vocal rendition featuring Kim Mayo, mezzo soprano, and Tomás Cruz, tenor. The 10 tracks are built upon the Psalms [58; 110; 119; 126; 131; 147]. Eckemoff’s group also includes veteran musicians Ralph Alessi, trumpet; Ben Monder, electric guitar; Christian Howes, violin; Drew Gress, double bass; and Joey Baron, drums. I am reminded of Duke Ellington’s Black, Brown & Beige album with Mahalia Jackson singing the 23rd Psalm, and the religious settings of Dave Brubeck, Vince Guaraldi, Ben Sidran, Wynton Marsalis, and Mary Lou Williams, and many other jazz artists, as Charles Lloyd, who performs spirituals. This is not ‘gospel jazz’ but more like jazz lieder, with the compositions and arrangements matched to the words or connotation of the Psalm. The sound is rich in melody and harmony with ornamental timbres of instrumental solos. Sometimes the rhythmic phrasing catches the ear, other times, the beauty captures the heart. The instrumental disc is not the same as the first minus the vocalists but an entirely new take with slightly longer tracks. It has ECM-like mellow and attractive tonal quality and allows concentration on the music and piece discernment. Although a couple tracks stand out, such as Psalm 119 Jod and the complex last piece, Psalm 147, with three subsections, the entire work of both discs is somewhat even, coherent in character. Future discs covering other Psalms are planned.

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4 May 2018

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel for Amazon

Desert Amazon, Debra Jan Bibel

This concept album, a suite, features a quartet with a couple of familiar names. The reedman (particularly haunting oboe) is Paul McCandless, renown for his work with the group Oregon. Having played with classical and jazz groups since 1972, drummer-percussionist Peter Erksine has over 700 albums to his credit plus a honorary doctorate from Berklee School of Music. The bassist is Arild Andersen, a veteran at age 72; he is an internationally respected sideman since 1964. Leading the quartet as pianist and composer is Russian-born Yelena Eckemoff, who has issued a flurry of thematic albums since 2010. Her classical training and teaching are quickly recognized in her jazz scores.

The 11 tracks over 74 minutes are impressions of deserts and their inhabitants. Arabian-imagined motifs weave into the dense, bright, often noisily dramatic pieces. Timbre itself of soprano and alto reeds, deep bass, the orchestral piano, and mid-range drums and cymbals produce various hues of sound. The evocative titles, such as Bedouins, Mirages, Oasis, Dust Storm, and Sands, set the mood of each musical poem…..or story, as Eckemoff, seen in package notes, has written her own fanciful Arabian tales and poems for each work. Neither romantic Rimsky-Korsakov nor the whispy ECM jazz sound, the music finds a middle ground (as defined by Oregon over the many decades). A highlight of the album is the track Dance, which is the exemplar of Eckemoff’s approach. Mirage is noted by the number and variety of Romantic themes. The dark, forlorn and dissonant Colors of Nothingness continues with the soaring Condor, and even Garden of Eden is covered by sad sands. Twice is nice: As it may take a while for the ear to accustom to any unusual, inventive group’s sound and style, better appreciation will come with a second hearing.

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