Throughout the decade of the 2000s,
the Claudia Quintet recorded, toured, and became one of the top five progressive jazz units in the U.S. and the world. For 2010 they continue with
Royal Toast, implying elegance and a golden brown, perfectly prepared, even buttery music. Percussionist/composer/bandleader
John Hollenbeck has retained saxophonist and clarinetist
Chris Speed, the piquant subtle vibraphonist
Matt Moran, accordion specialist
Ted Reichman, and the great bassist
Drew Gress, adding special guest
Gary Versace, not on organ but acoustic piano. The resulting music is surprising low-key, less complex and intricate, but still bold, groundbreaking, and spread across numerous colorful sonic palettes. Many of these performances have solo preludes from individual bandmembers, with
Hollenbeck's drums preceding the more involved funk of
"Keramag," the pithy bass of
Gress leading into the driven and heavy fast march
"Sphinx," and
Speed's counterpoint overdubbed saxes as an intro for the sideways title track, recalling recent efforts of
David Binney. The stand-alone
"Crane Merit" lives up to its title in the lugubrious but dignified persona of the near extinct bird, while
"Paterna Terra" is free to soulful and the tandem
"Ideal/American Standard" is mysterious to insistent.
Versace's role is that of shading or propping up these melodies, and one should listen closely to his contributions here. It's another extraordinary musical experience from
the Claudia Quintet, who deserve all the high marks they receive as an innovative, thought-provoking, singularly unique contemporary ensemble. ~ Michael G. Nastos
