Merge, Jazz, Rock, weird jazz, americana

5 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Vocals, ROCK: Americana



Details:
This is a jazz record for people who hate jazz. âHow can that be possible?â you may wonder. Although it seems like an oxymoron, The Uncertain Adventures of Jace K. Seavers is a jazz record that could very well appeal to those people who find jazz music to be an incomprehensible flurry of notes and spastic rhythms.

Jace K. Seavers writes structured, catchy jazz music that is perfect for both longtime fans of jazz and for the genreâs critics.

Jace K. Seavers will very likely draw comparisons to Jamie Cullum, the young British pianist that suddenly flourished in popularity in 2004. Jaceâs voice is smooth, low, and suave, much like Cullumâs. However, while Cullum revels in making jazzy covers of well-known songs, Jace K. Seavers writes his own songs with his own lyrics. Cullumâs music is also centered around his light piano playing. Jaceâs music, on the other hand, is based on the saxophone work and Jaceâs steady string bass playing that is reminiscent of the solid playing of jazz great, Charles Mingus. One can also pick out the Duke Ellington influence in âCaravan of Thieves.â While Jaceâs version is much more chaotic and flamboyant than the Dukeâs âCaravan,â the rapid bass line that evokes a sense of movement is present in both songs.

For the most part, the music is upbeat and light. While one would expect that Jace would allow himself plenty of freedom to throw in extravagant bass solos, he instead utilizes his bass as a backup instrument. The saxophone is the instrument that plays a central role throughout the album. Jim Hoke, the primary saxophonist, keeps the album moving with a profusion of polished and artistic solos. The guitar is also featured with a number of bluesy solos.

Jaceâs main inspiration ventures from his interest in history, and existentialism. The first two tracks on the record, for example, refer to both the medieval ages of Joan of Arc and to the destruction of Rome. It is obvious that Jace places a high level of importance on writing his lyrics because the words of each song are masterfully crafted. The lyrics flow superbly and the countless metaphors Jace introduces add an extra poetic touch to every song.

The general setup of the songs remains constant throughout the album. Each song begins with a short musical intro that centers around a saxophone melody. The songs then lead into the first verse, the chorus, a second verse, the chorus again, and then a musical intro highlighting one or two instrumental solos. After this interlude, Jace begins singing a third verse and the chorus is introduced once again. This song structure is nothing original; any music fan can recognize this arrangement from the majority of pop and rock music today. However, this common song structure is the primary reason why The Uncertain of Adventures of Jace K. Seavers is so accessible. Fans of jazz will appreciate the catchy musical interludes while those who are less than appreciative of jazz will like the charismatic vocals and not-so-chaotic structure.

LIBBY WAIT http://cdreviews.com