Alchemy Records is thrilled to announce the release of \u201cMomentarily,\u201d an ensemble tour de force from celebrated composer guitarist Jon Durant. The album showcases the best of Durant\u2019s unique skill set, an amalgamation of transcultural, jazz-related styles, that gives way to euphoric, universally relatable grooves and soundscapes. A trio recording featuring Durant alongside longtime musical partners Colin Edwin (bass) and Andi Pupato (drums\/ percussion), both legends in their own right, this musical jewel showcases rare mastery through individually compelling tracks and comprehensive arcs.
The responsive and fluid interaction of these three collaborators immediately draws listeners in. Created initially as a series of guitar improvisations by Durant, the composer then developed and rearranged the pieces for trio. Grounded musical elements beautifully balance freely improvised aspects, hinting at one of the key ingredients of Durant\u2019s signature, sublime sound. The seamless flow between composition and improvisation leaves the listener in an effortless state of engagement.\u00a0\u00a0
Throughout \u201cMomentarily\u201d Durant\u2019s explorative guitar leads the way. His expressive use of fretless guitar on all but one of the tracks \u201cshows he is one of the precious few practitioners on the instrument that elevate it beyond its usual presence as a mere novelty.\u201d (All About Jazz) In addition, his use of guitar synth \u2013 in this case playing a modified sample of an Armenian Duduk \u2013 adds a breathy counterpoint to his emotionally tinged guitar parts.\u00a0\u00a0
Percussionist Andi Pupato (Nik B\u00e4rtsch\u2019s Ronin, Andreas Vollenwider, Fractal Sextet) shines throughout with his totally unique hybrid kit comprising both hand drums and conventional drum set. This distinctive collection of timbres emotes the open space of European jazz with considerable Middle Eastern elements that the hand drums reveal alongside Durant\u2019s Fretless guitar. Anchoring the whole process is bassist Colin Edwin (O.R.k., Gaudi, Burnt Belief), with whom Durant has worked extensively over the past 12 years. On \u201cMomentarily\u201d he is playing acoustic basses (upright and fretless acoustic) providing a sonorous low end balancing out the whole picture.\u00a0 His beautifully melodic playing on the opening track \u201cIn A Moment\u201d provides especially delightful interaction with Durant and Pupato.\u00a0\u00a0
Among the standout tracks on the album is the epic \u201cRockets on Kyiv.\u201d Originally conceived and recorded on the morning Russia bombed the glass bridge in Kyiv (where Durant, Edwin and Ukrainian singer Inna Kovtun had filmed many scenes in the video for their song \u201cGannochka\u201d). When Durant steps on the distortion on this one, you can instantly feel the deep emotions he was experiencing that morning. In addition, the one track with fretted guitar (\u201cBitter Wind\u201d) shows a depth of gratitude towards his Scandinavian musical influences.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n