Adam O’Farrill – “El Maquech” (Biophilia Records, 2018)

“El Maquech” is the newest release of “Biophilia Records”. Album was recorded by four jazz masters – it’s Adam O’Farrill (trumpet), Chad Lefkowitz-Brown (tenor saxophone), Walter Stinson (bass) and Zach O’Farrill (drums). The music of this ensemble is based on organic synthesis of various jazz styles and music elements. The musicians masterfully fuse together avant-garde jazz, modern and contemporary jazz, traditional jazz and various ethnic music elements of Europe and Asia countries. The musicians like to experiment – they are fusing and mixing together absolutely different elements and styles, which are the opposites to each other. The huge range of jazz styles and ethnical intonations is just a part of their music – dance, circus music, contemporary academical, experimental music and academic avant-garde also are heard very much in improvisations of these four jazz masters. Each musician is great and creative improviser – all of them had created and masterfully improved interesting, original and innovative playing style, manner and sound.

The music of “El Maquech” is very contrasting, expressive and moody. Different playing techniques, experimental ways of playing, drastic and sudden changes of musical language and mood, special effects, spontaneous and vivacious solos – all these elements are very important to whole sound. It makes an effort to suggestive, effective, expressive and impressive sound. The musicians are trying out new ways of playing and aren’t avoiding the eclectic combinations of styles, expressions, dynamics, rhythms and other musical language elements. Because of that, the musical language of whole album is especially bright, innovative and colorful. The msuical pattern is based on free improvisation, various open forms of avant-garde jazz, dynamic rhythmic and sharp harmony. A synthesis of creative and free jazz and various modern jazz form the basics of these compositions. Bebop, post bop, hard bop, free, creative, fusion, cool and various elements of traditional jazz are mixed together with dance and circus music, intonations of Asia and Europe music, Afroamerican music and other similar music styles. Remarkable and memorable melodies, bright and vibrant solos, dynamic rhythms are gently fused together in one place. Trumpet melodies are expressive and vivacious. Adam O’Farrill plays with passion, very expressively and emotionally – his improvisations has impressive and remarkable melodies, which make whole sound more effective and energetic. Musician uses huge range of extended playing techniques, expressions, his musical language is based on sharp and harsh chords, dynamic rhythms which are highly contrasting with slow and static rhythms, soft consocances and other elements. His music is filled with harsh and rigorous riffs, vibrant, powerful and loud blow outs, passionate and wild fast passages, emotional and spontaneous solos – all these elements are masterfully blended together and gently go along together with other instruments. Teor saxophone melodies by Chad Lefkowitz-Brown make a pleasant equation with trumpet. Vivid, moving, striking and touching melodies are filled with impressive solos, energetic, shrieky and turbulent blow outs, furiously fast passages, colorful timbres and unusual sounds. Improviser makes a remarkable and effective sound by using dozens of different expressions, playing techniques and chords. He masterfully switches between different moods and characters, base the improvisations on free and sponataneous solos. Walter Stinson bass melodies reveal the other side of the compositions – it’s based on lyrical, soft and subtle solos, abstract musical pattern, weird timbres, monotonic bass line, deep, dark, depressive and harsh chords and other similar things. Bass melodies make an effort to rhythmic section and also colorfully illustrate the melodic pattern. Already mentionned elements of bass imrpovisations are fused together with special effects, expressive, moving and touching solos, passionate melodies and marvelous passages. The improvisations also make an effort to background – bring more colors and tunes and turn it more brighter. The drums section is especially impressive, energetic and turbulent – it’s leaded by Zach O’Farrill. Experienced and creative drummmer masterfully mixes together various basic elements of bebop, hard bop, post bop, fusion, cool, swing, other traditional jazz styles, Afroamerican, Asian and Europe music elements. The marvelous synthesis between all these absolutely different and contrasting rhythmic forms makes a solid, independent and remarkable rhythmic section, which is highly contrasting with expressive, firm, colorful and interesting melodic section. The music of this album has impressive, original and expressive sound.