Abbey Rader – “Ritual” (ABRAY Productions, 2017)

“Ritual” is the newest avant-garde jazz album which was released just a few days ago, on October 7. The album was recorded by three jazz masters – Abbey Rader (drums, percussion), Kyle Motl (double bass) and Drew Ceccato (tenor sax). These three musicians are improvising together for a long time now. Their improvisations usually have interesting and extraordinary sound, are full of innovative and original musical decisions, stunning musical experiments and variety of expressions. The musicians always try to create extraordinary and essential sound – that’s why they like to use innovative and new ways of playing, search for unusual timbres and sounds. Through the years since the beginning of their musical career, the musicians had created and masterfully improved original playing style and sound. All trio members are active in avant-garde jazz scene – they are always collaborating with other jazz musicians, concerting in various countries of the world.

Album compositions are based on avant-garde jazz. Collective improvisations essentially demonstrate original and effective improvising style of the musicians. Independent and individual melodies are based on absolutely different music elements. Each musicians improvisation is an independent melody with its own and essential sound. Dynamic and unpredictable saxophone melodies are filled with lyric and melodic solos, loud and sharp blow outs, virtuosic pasages, active and energetic solos and stylistic waves. Double bass is used not just for rhythmic basement, it also have a solid melodic basic. The double bass melodies are based on different musical language elements which are highly contrasting with each other. Subtle, virtuosic, active or very calm and quiet – these melodies have original and interesting sound. Double bass and saxophone melodies gently fit together with percussion and drums. Dynamic and active rhythmic basement is formed of high variety of rhythm formulas and percussion sounds. The musicians also try out innovative ways of playing to extract new and extraordinary sound. The variety of musical expressions, extended and innovative playing techniques, wide range of percussion instruments sounds, dynamic, independent and memorable melodies create essential and colorful musical pattern and the sound of all compositions of this album. Expressive, emotional and masterful improvising is the main and the most important element of these improvisations – it make innovative and original sound.