BY SAMUEL COTTELL
Evolving
Francesca Prihasti
CD launches May 4
Evolving, recorded in New York with Rodney Green (drums), Orlando Le Fleming (double bass) and Nic Vardanega (guitar), this is jazz pianist and composer Francesca Prihasti’s follow up to her debut album Night Trip. While Night Trip was an exploration of her influences and other jazz styles, Evolving is a more mature following and demonstrates a more organic flow to her composing and playing. Tracing the evolution of a butterfly, this album demonstrates some of Prihasti’s most introspective and beautiful melodic composing to date.
Prihasti’s compositions tend to be minimalistic in nature and unfold organically, making for some pleasant and thought-provoking listening. The Sydney Conservatorium of Music graduate demonstrates an introspective approach and she is able to enhance the detail of the musical ideas through their delicate treatment. The players, particularly Vardanega, approach Prihasti’s compositions with utmost respect and care and their response demonstrates a deep understanding of the inner structures.
Vardanega’s solo in ‘The Circle’ is particularly impressive and outlines a clarity of musical line and subtle shading. Vardanega treats these tunes with tenderness, allowing the sparse and minimalistic melodic lines carefully unfold. Bass and drums provide the perfect foundation and support for the guitar and piano, who often feature as a duo to glide around the musical material with complete ease.
Green and Fleming provide a solid support over which Vardanega and Prihasti glide and dance, at times in unison and supporting each other throughout the solos. Prihasti’s piano solos tend to explore the mid to upper registers of the piano and her delicately considered improvisations feel as though they are gliding down the piano in a dancing line – like water droplets dancing down a window – to a beautiful chord which hits with the rest of the band. This enhances the overall structure of many of the tracks and demonstrates the artist at her best. This exemplified in ‘High Above the City’, which begins with gentle chords in the piano and the guitar taking the melody before handing it to the piano for an extended solo.
This CD is the whole package. Recorded in New York by Maxim Ross, mixed by Ross A’Hearn in Sydney and mastered by Nate Wood in New York the sound production is exquisite. Also worth a mention in this cross-culture collaboration is the stunning artwork cover designed by Siska Felicia in Jakarata.
Overall, this a brilliant follow up to Prihasti’s debut album and very much demonstrates her evolution as an artist. This album is a delight for jazz fans and even those non-jazzers. Keep an eye (and an ear) out for Francesca Prihasti – she has a bright future.
Read more about the album in my interview with Prihasti here. Francesca Prihasti launches Evolving at Foundry 616 on May 4.
Images supplied.
