PATRICK CORNELIUS’ ACADIA - Way Of The Cairns
Whirlwind: WR4766
Patrick Cornelius: alto saxophone; Michael Janisch: double bass; Kristjan Randalu: piano; Paul Wiltgen: drums
Recorded May 20th 2019 by Dick Hammett at red Gables Studio, London
This quartet previously performed under the name ‘The Transatlantic Collective’ from 2006 to 2009. Reconvening under a new name, this album combines a set of compositions from Cornelius, together with tunes from Wiltgen and Randalu. Cornelius’ tunes focus on the American National Park from which the group take their name: Acadia (in the Northeast of Maine). The opening track, ‘Way of the Cairns’, begins with bass and sax mirroring the same jittering line and is inspired by the climb to Great Head Mountain. There’s a hint of Nordic cool in the phrasing here (perhaps influenced for me by the images of the CD cover) in the marriage of folk-like themes with hard bop sensibilities. This latter is clearest on ‘On the precipice’, track 8, particularly in terms of Wiltgen’s drum breaks and Randalu’s stabbed piano chords. Across each tune the rhythmic axis propels the music, giving well defined support to Cornelius’ sinuous sax lines and Randalu’s undulating piano flight, particularly on ‘Star Party’, track 2. The music conveys the sense of space, beauty and the uneasy feelings of humans confronting the vastness of a wilderness. This is particularly the case in pieces like ‘Darkest Night’, track 5, or ‘On the Precipice’, track 8.
The melancholic ‘Valse Hesitante’, trac 6, from Randalu begins with piano solo with gently coaxing sax alongside. Wiltgen’s piece, ‘Ten years later’, track 9, is also a ballad, giving Cornelius a lyrical but complex melody in celebration of the ten year hiatus and reunion of the players.
While compositional duties (and the name of the band) owe a debt to Cornelius (who has a lengthy career with over players), the session recorded here feels very much a collective enterprise, with the players creating a highly listenable set that exudes charm.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
Whirlwind: WR4766
Patrick Cornelius: alto saxophone; Michael Janisch: double bass; Kristjan Randalu: piano; Paul Wiltgen: drums
Recorded May 20th 2019 by Dick Hammett at red Gables Studio, London
This quartet previously performed under the name ‘The Transatlantic Collective’ from 2006 to 2009. Reconvening under a new name, this album combines a set of compositions from Cornelius, together with tunes from Wiltgen and Randalu. Cornelius’ tunes focus on the American National Park from which the group take their name: Acadia (in the Northeast of Maine). The opening track, ‘Way of the Cairns’, begins with bass and sax mirroring the same jittering line and is inspired by the climb to Great Head Mountain. There’s a hint of Nordic cool in the phrasing here (perhaps influenced for me by the images of the CD cover) in the marriage of folk-like themes with hard bop sensibilities. This latter is clearest on ‘On the precipice’, track 8, particularly in terms of Wiltgen’s drum breaks and Randalu’s stabbed piano chords. Across each tune the rhythmic axis propels the music, giving well defined support to Cornelius’ sinuous sax lines and Randalu’s undulating piano flight, particularly on ‘Star Party’, track 2. The music conveys the sense of space, beauty and the uneasy feelings of humans confronting the vastness of a wilderness. This is particularly the case in pieces like ‘Darkest Night’, track 5, or ‘On the Precipice’, track 8.
The melancholic ‘Valse Hesitante’, trac 6, from Randalu begins with piano solo with gently coaxing sax alongside. Wiltgen’s piece, ‘Ten years later’, track 9, is also a ballad, giving Cornelius a lyrical but complex melody in celebration of the ten year hiatus and reunion of the players.
While compositional duties (and the name of the band) owe a debt to Cornelius (who has a lengthy career with over players), the session recorded here feels very much a collective enterprise, with the players creating a highly listenable set that exudes charm.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
