PELLUCIDAR / A DREAMERS FANTABULA

The most notable thing about John Zorn´s "Pellucidar" (2015), besides the fact that he acts as arranger, composer, conductor, primary artist and producer, is his amiable approach to classic and modern Jazz, with slight brushes of Rock, standards.

Unexepected as where it will go as most of his releases, regarding stylings, this project shows its roots from the very first composition to its last.

Its songs run through quiet travelled roads, yet there is this "Zornesque" attribute that marks its own step without sabotaging or twisting the styles as to become a parody of themselves. In fact it enforces these style "standards" to the limit without shame.

To advise what kind of instrumental environment you will find, let me finger point that the electric piano (Jamie Saft) and Kenny Wollesen's vibraphone play lead role and they are counterpointed by an electric guitar (Marc Ribot) which varies its function accordingly. Sometimes angry and poignant, others distant, dreamy and wrapping, others "latin" like and others just truly Rocking. And of course everything is tightly bound by a true to the varied Jazz styles rhythm section (Trevor Dunn, Ben Perowsky and Cyro Baptista, among others).

Music wise it could actually turn out be a truthful tribute to some of the Jazz legends that have enriched these styles. Influences like Tatum, Hampton and Rich trio or Dave Brubeck or Wes Montgomery to B.B. King to George Benson (yes I´m also surprised) and whatever may fall in between.

As far as the rating goes, I have to agree that in John Zorn´s terms this album is quiet daring, yet I could not really consider this, extremely good and clean-cut, release as "essential", even though it is flawless.

***3. (imaginary) 9, PA stars.