Denman Maroney Quintet

Moving to France seems to have lightened Denman Maroney’s mood, at least musically. For the American pianist known for his work on prepared piano with Mark Dresser, Hans Tammen and others, has turned out a cadenced and capable CD, a change from his former brusque and slightly bleak performances. One reason may be the limiting the jangle of the prepared or hyperpiano to one track. This  doesn’t  weaken the overall mood. But considering Umwelt means recognizing the senses of other species, in a parallel fashion Maroney’s composition are given more scope from his quintet members contributions. These species includes American bassist Scott Walton who he has recorded with in the past, plus French reedists Robin Fincker, Guillaume Orti and drummer Samuel Silvant, all of who have worked with Jérôme Lefebvre, Bernard Santacruz and Mathieu Werchowski among many others.

Part of the game plan involves investing the mostly buoyant tunes with harmonized, overlapping or unison reed options, usually mated with piano key clips and judicious drum accents. That doesn’t mean that the saxes and clarinet stay away from unexpected reed pivots. Yet when tracks such as “Isotrope”  where interlock reed tones give way to strained trills and irregular vibrations and later antiphony; or “Lilt” where lowing and mooing reed timbres evolve on top of piano tinkles and arco bass slides, buoyant swing is maintained.

While Silvant’s often gunshot resonating but always shrewd percussion intonation cements most of the expositions, note-bending, stop-start and flutters of Fincker and Orti maintain the mood(s) as well. These textures are frequently expressed in sync with Maroney’s mid-range piano chording, low pitched variables or emphasized strokes.

“Sea Set Wheat”, the sets most overtly rhythmic track, is also Walton’s showpiece. With thumping resonation and mid-range string twangs he creates a thematic extension which consolidates drum ruffs, saxophone blats and Maroney’s near player-piano riffs and portends a neat sound summation.

If Gallic residency has lightened and intensified Maroney’s music, we’re all the beneficiaries.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Andale/Simplexity 2. Iteratio 3. Two Up, One Down 4. Isotrope 5. Lilt 6. Sea Set Wheat 7. Long Odds 8. Umwelt 9. Rolling Evermore

Personnel: Guillaume Orti (soprano and alto saxophones); Robin Fincker (tenor saxophone and Bb clarinet); Denman Maroney (piano); Scott Walton (bass) and Samuel Silvant (drums)