Reviewed: 2018-07-06
Genre: General
FCCs: none
Review: FLOW is a New Age-super group including local guitarist and founder of the legendary label, Windham Hill, William Ackerman. There is a beautiful flow in the music that lives up to their name. As in the records on ECM, the pause plays a significant role. The music is allowed to breathe and silence becomes a companion to the pieces. Several stellar guest sit in, as well.
If You Like: Michael Hedges, Bill Frissell, George Winston, Django Bates, Enrico Rava, Mark Isham;
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Arrival (5:19) – piano starts with slow solo & builds into slow jam> builds in volume & intensity> slow fade
2/ Whisper Me this (8:08) – synth starts with slow & mellow drone> slow sonic jam with shifting melody> piano solo over synth strings> slow fade & pause, then swings into midtempo jam & fade
*3/ Flow (2:56) – guitar starts> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> guitar solo> midtempo jam> fade
4/ Free Ascent (4:24) – trumpet /synth starts> slow ethereal jam with guitar solo over the top> slow fade
*5/ Waiting For Sunshine (4:56) – guitar/piano starts> slow duet> flugelhorn joins> slow jam> flugelhorn solo> guitar solo> slow jam> slow fade
6/ Waters Gather (3:29) – flugelhorn starts slowly> slow jam with synthesizer & piano> piano solo to fade
7/ And The Sky Was (6:18) – guitar starts> slow ethereal jam> pause> long meditative sonic jam> slow fade
**8/ A Night In Nocella (3:13) – piano/guitar duet starts> slow & swaying> builds to midtempo jam> pause> full band midtempo jam> pause> guitar/piano slow duet> fade
*9/ Tenth Life (4:23) – piano starts> full band midtempo jam like an expanding universe> slow fade
*10/ Rest Now My Friend (3:39) – trumpet starts with guitar over the top> slow jam with beautiful guitar solo overlay> slow fade
*11/ For Rosita & Giovanni (4:18) – guitar starts> slow jam> guitar solo> flugelhorn solo> slow jam & fade