Less is more Saft, Swallow, Previte with Iggy Pop
Three days after writing the text about Youn Sun Nah, the long-awaited “Loneliness Road” is out. An album by Jamie Saft (Rare Noise Records), accompanied by Steve Swallow and Bobby Previte (and a guest appearance by Iggy Pop).
Back in 2014, with the first album of the New Standard trio, this formation went beyond the ordinary piano trio.
The musicians:
Jamie Saft – one of the most original and creative artists of the contemporary New York scene, participant in numerous projects. His strongest appearance before all his individual work is his participation in John Zorn’s projects, where he brings loads of individuality. In the last couple of years, he has been concentrating on some solo works, where the focus lays on solo acoustic piano performances of Stravinsky plays to reggae and dub, channeled in his albums with the New Zion trio. Also, deffinitely worth mentionion is his now cult breakthrough with Steve Swallow and Bobby Previte – the New Standard trio.
A performer with a lot of energy and a wide musical range, a composer and producer with his own recording studio.
Steve Swallow – a lot can be said about him. A permanent figure in the projects of Carla Bley, amongst many others. An icon with an individual voice, stretching so far from the ordinary, that you can’t fully grasp it, unless you listen to it.
Bobby Previte – I’m a bit ashamed to admit this, but I only found out about him because of this group project. Bobby Previte is a real icon for drummers around the globe. I once heard of the saying “he plays the drums in four dimensions – height, width, length and soul”. Amazing!
What these three people have in common is that before the hands, the head and the soul come in. Three Buddhists, three jedis.
I borrow the description for the sound, because the only explanation isn’t three but four dimensional.
With it’s realization, the first project made a mini revolution. How does one make music, why does one make music, who are you a slave to? And this different, minimalistic point of view has become the standard. Entirely analogue, recorded in one go, it manages to put the listener in another dimension, where the space is filled with music in the same way, as if it were played live.
Incredible harmony and finesse, mutual listening and high flying. Step Lively
Interestingly enough, two current projects by Saft (She moves on by Youn Sun Nah and Loneliness Road) strongly interact with each other. Of course, in a combination with Steve Swallow and Bobby Previte, Saft allows himself a lot more complicated variations, but keeps the reggae and groove feel alive.
An incredible world has been created by this trio, filled with details and thought. And a big dose of craftsmanship.
The emotional range is so broad that you get the feeling of jumping off a high cliff into the sea, going through all sorts of emotions on your way down into the water.
As per usual, the album was recorded in one go, completely analogue, without any extra mixing. The overall effect is made even bigger with the participation of Iggy Pop in three of the plays, one of which is the header of the album. Loneliness Road
A commentary of Iggy Pop, regarding his involvement in the project: “I was really dying to sing the song and get it off my chest. There was no lyric sheet or music stand used, because I knew all the words in my head.” (Iggy Pop, about his contributions to ‘Loneliness Road’)
June 2017
©MA
