Release Date: October
5, 2018
Label: Retso Records
Reach has
nine tracks in total and it is a great mixture of sound and textures that will
do many things to you while listening including relaxing, feeling energized and
wanting to move, becoming contemplative, just about everything one person can
think of or do during the listen of one album really. It invites you in at the
outset and you never want to leave that “musical comfy chair.”
I love new age music when it combines jazz and world
rudiments. “Le Caveau” is a great example of those sounds and atmospheres
getting in sync. The music and sound clarity are amazing. The following track
“Five Great Mountains” is just hypnotic. Jeff’s horn is superlative and the
bass is incredible, in fact, I thought it might be Tony Levin, who seems to
show up on everyone’s albums. It is, in fact, Benjamin J. Shepherd, who plays a
huge role in the track, and the entire sound of the album actually. His rhythm
and musical leadership in the track are exemplary. That kind of preciseness
allows the star of the show to shine even brighter, so hats off to Benjamin for
doing such a great job with his instrument. Everyone involved in this project
is outstanding so I felt the need to list the credits below.
Some of the other instruments on this recording, besides
the horns of course, that give it an overall world-jazz flavor, are the Erhu
and Indian Flutes. Then there are very calming spiritual tracks like “The Lotus
Within.” In my estimation, the reference would be the Lotus flower, a
symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also known as the Indian or sacred
lotus. The emphasis is on sacred for
this magnificent composition.
To keep things fresh and on your “listening toes,” Jeff
follows those two critical tracks with an upbeat jazz and funk-filled number
titled “Troppo Y Boffo.” The Latin percussion and bass pulsate and drive the
number while Jeff just glides through with his horn putting the veritable icing
on the cake. It is Latin bliss, wonderful and colorful as it gets. This track
could find a home on any good (worthy) jazz album.
Jeff Oster puts it all together on Reach. Every track is solid and consistent throughout. The
combination of instruments, musical style and artistry of every contributing
musician make this album one of the best in the genre this year. This comes as
no surprise to me as everything I have ever heard from Jeff has been
superlative from his own recordings to being a guest on other recordings. He is
in a groove that keeps him at the forefront of the music industry and I can see
that influence growing more all the time. In conclusion, I think that he will Reach a much larger audience with each
successive release
Artists:
Jeff
Oster – Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Ruslan
Sirota – Piano, Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals
Robyn
Ghosh – Guitar
Benjamin
J. Shepherd – Bass
Tamir
Barzilay – Drums
Pete Korpela
– Percussion
Jenni
Asher – Erhu (Track 4)
Ravichandra
Kulur – Indian Flutes (Track 9)
Drew
Allsbrook – Vocals (Track 4)
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
October 14, 2018
Founder of:
Review
Provided By New Age Music Reviews
Tracks:
1. Onward
2. Far Rockaway
3. Le Caveau
4. Five Great Mountains
5. The Lotus Within
6. Troppo Y Boffo
7. How Familiar
8. Velvet and Smoke
9. The Pink City
Tracks:
1. Onward
2. Far Rockaway
3. Le Caveau
4. Five Great Mountains
5. The Lotus Within
6. Troppo Y Boffo
7. How Familiar
8. Velvet and Smoke
9. The Pink City