Apr 09, 2019 For more than two decades, Chris Potter’s limitless creativity, effortless virtuosity and vibrant sense of swing has wowed critics, musicians and fans alike, who cite him as one of the most influential saxophonists and inventive improvisors of the modern day.His new album, Circuits is immediate and uplifting, rooted in a strong sense of groove and intense improvisation.
By SAMMY STEIN
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Chris Potter
b.1971
woodwind
'>Chris Potter is one of the most influential and inventive improvisors of these times. Circuits is Potter and keyboardist b.1971
woodwind
James Francies
piano
'>James Francies, drummer piano
Eric Harland
b.1976
drums
'>Eric Harland and bassist b.1976
drums
Linley Marthe
b.1972
bass, electric
'>Linley Martheb.1972
bass, electric
For more than two decades Potter's limitless creativity, effortless virtuosity and vibrant sense of swing have wowed critics, musicians and fans. Following three acclaimed albums on ECM, Circuits sees Potter with a new home at Edition Records and a return to groove, echoing his music from his earlier Underground group.
'Invocation' opens with smoothly sumptuous bass clarinet blowing under the multi-tracked recordings of other reeds, creating chorale-like harmonies. There is anticipation and intrigue here, a sense of something big and bold to come. And it does with 'Hold It,' which sets off from the start with a tenor groove over energetic percussion and solid keyboard chords. The track builds both in intensity and the improvisational exploration, all held together by Harland's energetic, inventive drumming and Francies' dexterous keyboards. This is modern jazz, commanding and strong, but with a definite old jazz feel infusion. Potter's rampant solo is mesmeric both in speed and technique, which of course means nothing without passion, which Potter delivers with generosity. The inclusion of a section with electronic sounds over gentle percussion towards the end of the composition's second third allows the contrast Potter introduces in the outro to be fully felt.
'The Nerve' begins slowly, tentatively and with both a tenderness and Eastern feel, gradually developing into a syncopated rhythmic track with those Eastern influences, but now tempered and developed into thematic styling and samples. The sax solo is lifting, sensual and driven by the rapid key traveling which Potter does so well. The bass line supports and the keyboards excel on this track.
'Koutomé' opens with a dancing theme instigated by Potter, which is joined by percussion to create a West African-inspired, body- swinging atmosphere, developed throughout the track with percussion maintaining the decidedly harem-esque accents with a particularly nifty solo section included. In the end section, the keys introduce floating linear scales which lift and rise over the percussive continuum. 'Circuits' begins with what sounds like an orchestral tune-up, out of which the percussive rhythm emerges, then the bass line, keyboards and, finally, the saxophones imposing a powerful melodic theme over the slightly chaotic start. This is a vibrant track, full of different textures and several changes of tempo that combine world class musicians with electronic sounds, adding depths and texture while falling short of being overwhelming. Potter, using overdubbed horns, plays both against and with himself on this balanced and beautiful piece, whilst both keys and percussion get their place in the spotlight. The sudden switch in rhythm in the second third is a surprise, while the bass and drums work together well across this section.
'Exclamation' is a wonderful contrast that explodes into life with an immediate theme and complexity of rhythms, both working together to create an almost big band feel. The changes in rhythm, and the use of different textures from reeds, percussion and bass make this an ear-catching delight from start to finish.
'Pressed for Time' combines electronics and virtuosity in this breathtaking finale to a superb recording. The percussion excels here, in the solo and across the track—and so do the bass and keys. Topped with some eerie reed sounds from Potter and some gorgeous, voltaic soloing from the saxophonist on tenor, this is a good track to close the album as it brings everything together and shows the virtuosity of all the musicians .
Circuits is a terrific recording, and what it does is show Potter at his show-stopping best. But it also incorporates modern electronic sounds, demonstrating that there is no line in jazz. Modern can match with traditional influences and merge to develop something verging on the extraordinary.
Track Listing: Invocation; Hold It; The Nerve; Koutomé; Circuits; Green Pastures; Queens of Brooklyn; Exclamation; Pressed For Time.
Personnel: Chris Potter: tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinets, flutes, sampler, guitars, keyboards, percussion; James Francies: keyboards; Eric Harland: drums; Linley Marthe: electric bass (3-5, 8).
Title: Circuits | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Edition Records
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About Chris Potter
Live Reviews
In Pictures
Radio
Album Reviews
- Circuits by Roger Farbey
- Circuits by Sammy Stein
Live Reviews
Album Reviews
- The Dreamer Is the Dream by Vincenzo Roggero
- The Dreamer Is the Dream by Mark Sullivan
- The Dreamer Is the Dream by Karl Ackermann
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Interviews
Album Reviews
- Imaginary Cities by Angelo Leonardi
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Extended Analysis
Book Reviews
Read more articlesThe Dreamer Is the...
ECM Records
2017
buy2017
Imaginary Cities
ECM Records
2015
buy2015
The Sirens
ECM Records
2013
buy2013
Upcoming Shows
Date | Detail | Price |
---|---|---|
Aug27Tue | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug27Tue | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug28Wed | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug28Wed | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug29Thu | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug29Thu | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug30Fri | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
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By ROGER FARBEY
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Circuits is, stylistically, relatively far removed from Sign in to view read count
Chris Potter
b.1971
woodwind
'>Chris Potter's previous album, The Dreamer Is The Dream (ECM, 2017) but is certainly no less attractive. Whilst the earlier album is, generally, more sedate (with some exceptions), this record is full of heterogeneous, unanticipated delights and handbrake rhythm turns. That said, the short-ish opener, 'Invocation,' with Potter on bass clarinet, atypically evinces a Duke Ellington-ish charm with an emphasis on elegant counterpoint. This makes 'Hold It' sound funky by contrast. But it's actually a taut, multi-tracked piece held in place by b.1971
woodwind
Eric Harland
b.1976
drums
'>Eric Harland's crisp drumming. b.1976
drums
The spacey sampling at the start of 'The Nerve' gives way within a couple of minutes to an Eastern-influenced, time-complex number, underpinned by
Linley Marthe
b.1972
bass, electric
'>Linley Marthe's electric bass. Rhythmically, 'Koutomé' has African overtones which are enhanced by the sparse bass clarinet lines that establish the melody. The title track is polyrhythmic and rock-infused, the horns are again multi-tracked and the piece is suffused with resonant bass guitar. It's a gripping, fascinating, near-ten minute foray. Harland's drumming towards the conclusion is particularly vibrant. b.1972
bass, electric
Both the pastoral 'Green Pastures,' with its delicate melody, and the wistful ballad-esque arrangement on 'Queens Of Brooklyn,' form a natural interlude from the surrounding livelier tunes. The helter-skelter approach to the appropriately-titled 'Exclamation' renders it a complete blast, replete with exciting twists and turns. The set concludes with the keyboard-orientated 'Pressed For Time,' but again Harland's presence is essential, providing a vital, uncompromising beat. Circuits carries considerable visceral heft and largely thanks to Potter's multi-instrumental versatility there's an occasional big band feel to the tracks. In any event, this album demonstrates, once again, the mark of Potter's true virtuosity and ingenuity. Circuits is surely an early contender for album of the year.
Track Listing: Invocation; Hold It; The Nerve; Koutomé; Circuits; Green Pastures; Queens of Brooklyn; Exclamation; Pressed For Time.
Personnel: Chris Potter: tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinets, flutes, sampler, guitars, keyboards, percussion; James Francies: keyboards; Eric Harland: drums; Linley Marthe: electric bass (3-5, 8).
Title: Circuits | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Edition Records
Tags
Watch
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.comments powered by Disqus
Shop for Music
Start your music shopping from All About Jazz and you'll support us in the process. Learn how.
About Chris Potter
Live Reviews
In Pictures
Radio
Album Reviews
- Circuits by Roger Farbey
- Circuits by Sammy Stein
Live Reviews
Album Reviews
- The Dreamer Is the Dream by Vincenzo Roggero
- The Dreamer Is the Dream by Mark Sullivan
- The Dreamer Is the Dream by Karl Ackermann
Live Reviews
Interviews
Album Reviews
- Imaginary Cities by Angelo Leonardi
- Imaginary Cities by Ian Patterson
- Imaginary Cities by Karl Ackermann
Extended Analysis
Book Reviews
Read more articlesThe Dreamer Is the...
ECM Records
2017
buy2017
Imaginary Cities
ECM Records
2015
buy2015
The Sirens
ECM Records
2013
buy2013
Upcoming Shows
Date | Detail | Price |
---|---|---|
Aug27Tue | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug27Tue | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug28Wed | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug28Wed | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug29Thu | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug29Thu | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
Aug30Fri | Chris Potter: UndergroundVillage VanguardNew York, NY | $35 |
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