ZACH LARMER ELECTRIC BAND - Inner Circle
Self Released
Zach Larmer Electric Band review
Zach Larmer: guitar; John Daversa: trumpet; EVI (1, 4); Aldo Salvent: tenor saxophone: (3-4); Brian Lynch: trumpet (6); Tal Cohen: keyboards; Jermaine Walden: bass (1,4, 7); Juan Pablo Diaz: bass (2, 3, 5, 6) David Chiverton: drums (1, 2, 4, 7) Rodolfo Zuniga: drums (3, 5, 6) Recorded at 10K, Miami, Florida.
Zach Larmer is a 21 year old guitarist from Miami that deserves wider attention. Academically gifted, at the age of 15 he entered Miami University's Frost School of Music, finished his degree in an astonishing three years and that experience helped bring him where he is today with his debut album, “Inner Circle”. The Zach Larmer Electric Band is the ensemble that graces this recording centered around a compatible group of players-- the rhythm sections of Tal Cohen on keyboards, Jermaine Walden or Juan Pablo Diaz on bass, drummers David Chiverton or Rodolfo Zuniga, and guests trumpeters John Daversa, the great Brian Lynch and tenor saxophonist Aldo Salvent play Larmer's compositions and the lone standard of the disc with panache.
Larmer was inspired by the sense of community beyond families that the great writer Kurt Vonnegut spoke of during a commencement address, and this concept of extended family is what informs the new album and the interplay between the different band members. The rhythm section hook up on “On the Dock” with Cohen's Fender Rhodes, bassist Jermaine Walder and David Chiverton is nothing short of incredible. Chiverton's pocket is deep and carries the entire tune in an entirely musical way, something that lovers of jazz rock from the early and mid eighties will adore. John Daversa the highly in demand trumpeter, works his magic with a heat seeking EVI solo (reminiscent of Michael Brecker or Bob Mintzer's EWI) and Tal Cohen makes an early impression with searing Rhodes and synth work. What's really unique about the tune is each player solos on a different portion of the form, Larmer balancing the melodic and anthemic in it's structure. In an era where guitarists are deeply influenced by John Scofield, Pat Metheny and Kurt Rosenwinkel, Larmer's slightly twangy tone and unhurried delivery reveal a very mature player. While those influences are present to a degree he's quite individual in his approach, really taking time to tell a story on “Garden of Eden”, a piece featuring a scorching Rhodes solo from Cohen with amped up support from Chiverton. The guitarist is extremely comfortable with each solo of his having a narrative arc, while he has chops in spades, it is not the end goal. His writing exhibits a maturity beyond his years on the ballad “Same As It Ever Was” dripping with warm colors, and “I Left it Bayou” at first sounds as if it's inspired by Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters but he takes the tune into an entirely different place. Brian Lynch, the most known of the cast shows up on the slow gospel burn of Juan Pablo Diaz's “Friedrichshain” engaging Larmer in a series of wonderful exchanges. “Softly As a Morning Sunrise” the lone standard of the date receives an unexpected funky treatment where Larmer really mines his musical toolbox to the fullest extent.
Zach Larmer is a bright new star on the jazz scene with an absolutely smoking debut album. What's remarkable about it is the fact that it was done live with no overdubs, edits or headphones with some rather complex music. Larmer's group fires straight out of the gate with a live concert like energy allowing everyone to really stretch out on the program.
Reviewed by CJ Shearn
Self Released
Zach Larmer Electric Band review
Zach Larmer: guitar; John Daversa: trumpet; EVI (1, 4); Aldo Salvent: tenor saxophone: (3-4); Brian Lynch: trumpet (6); Tal Cohen: keyboards; Jermaine Walden: bass (1,4, 7); Juan Pablo Diaz: bass (2, 3, 5, 6) David Chiverton: drums (1, 2, 4, 7) Rodolfo Zuniga: drums (3, 5, 6) Recorded at 10K, Miami, Florida.
Zach Larmer is a 21 year old guitarist from Miami that deserves wider attention. Academically gifted, at the age of 15 he entered Miami University's Frost School of Music, finished his degree in an astonishing three years and that experience helped bring him where he is today with his debut album, “Inner Circle”. The Zach Larmer Electric Band is the ensemble that graces this recording centered around a compatible group of players-- the rhythm sections of Tal Cohen on keyboards, Jermaine Walden or Juan Pablo Diaz on bass, drummers David Chiverton or Rodolfo Zuniga, and guests trumpeters John Daversa, the great Brian Lynch and tenor saxophonist Aldo Salvent play Larmer's compositions and the lone standard of the disc with panache.
Larmer was inspired by the sense of community beyond families that the great writer Kurt Vonnegut spoke of during a commencement address, and this concept of extended family is what informs the new album and the interplay between the different band members. The rhythm section hook up on “On the Dock” with Cohen's Fender Rhodes, bassist Jermaine Walder and David Chiverton is nothing short of incredible. Chiverton's pocket is deep and carries the entire tune in an entirely musical way, something that lovers of jazz rock from the early and mid eighties will adore. John Daversa the highly in demand trumpeter, works his magic with a heat seeking EVI solo (reminiscent of Michael Brecker or Bob Mintzer's EWI) and Tal Cohen makes an early impression with searing Rhodes and synth work. What's really unique about the tune is each player solos on a different portion of the form, Larmer balancing the melodic and anthemic in it's structure. In an era where guitarists are deeply influenced by John Scofield, Pat Metheny and Kurt Rosenwinkel, Larmer's slightly twangy tone and unhurried delivery reveal a very mature player. While those influences are present to a degree he's quite individual in his approach, really taking time to tell a story on “Garden of Eden”, a piece featuring a scorching Rhodes solo from Cohen with amped up support from Chiverton. The guitarist is extremely comfortable with each solo of his having a narrative arc, while he has chops in spades, it is not the end goal. His writing exhibits a maturity beyond his years on the ballad “Same As It Ever Was” dripping with warm colors, and “I Left it Bayou” at first sounds as if it's inspired by Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters but he takes the tune into an entirely different place. Brian Lynch, the most known of the cast shows up on the slow gospel burn of Juan Pablo Diaz's “Friedrichshain” engaging Larmer in a series of wonderful exchanges. “Softly As a Morning Sunrise” the lone standard of the date receives an unexpected funky treatment where Larmer really mines his musical toolbox to the fullest extent.
Zach Larmer is a bright new star on the jazz scene with an absolutely smoking debut album. What's remarkable about it is the fact that it was done live with no overdubs, edits or headphones with some rather complex music. Larmer's group fires straight out of the gate with a live concert like energy allowing everyone to really stretch out on the program.
Reviewed by CJ Shearn
