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  • The Ancient Art Of Giving

    SRCD0014

    Artist: Omer Avital

    Label: Smalls Records

    Omer Avital(bass), Mark Turner (tenor sax), Avishai Cohen (trumpet), Aaron Goldberg (piano), Ali Jackson(drums). Recorded 1/14/06 live at Fat Cat, New York City.

    This disk is a part of Smalls Records’ ongoing presentation of Omer Avital’s works, past and present. Here we feature some of his present work. But Avital is prolific, and it will require more than one release to catch up on his varied projects.

    So—here are some of the best players of this generation together in one group. And it’s no accident either. This is no gimmicky ‘all-star’ record where a bunch of big names are thrown together for the first time to make a record. The musicians in Omer Avital’s quintet have been down a long road together, and after more than ten years collaborating in diverse and overlapping combinations, they’ve made a significant mark on modern music both individually and collectively.

    Here Avital puts forth seven originals, and they are nicely programmed here like separate movements of an extended piece. As with much of Avital’s work, there is a sense of dramatic sweep, and an episodic structure. The tunes have graceful introductions, and run from wistful melodies to red hot refrains. There are lots of hooks for improvisation, and everybody gives his all. The overall feel is balanced, and it has the drive of a classic acoustic jazz quintet. The tone is optimistic, but it is a knowing optimism. It is in keeping with the enigmatic title. The ancient art of giving is an idea that ...