Circuitous is an album by jazz pianist Pandelis Karayorgis, which was recorded in 2012 and released on Driff, an artist-run label co-founded by Karayorgis and Jorrit Dijkstra. He leads a new band with four Chicago-based musicians: saxophonists Dave Rempis and Keefe Jackson, bassist Nate McBride and drummer Frank Rosaly. Karayorgis explains that Tony Williams' seminal album Spring inspired the instrumentation for this project, a quintet with two tenors as the main horns.[1]

Circuitous
Studio album by
Released2013
RecordedJanuary 16, 2012
StudioChicago Public Media, Chicago
GenreJazz
Length61:08
LabelDriff
Pandelis Karayorgis chronology
Window And Doorway
(2013)
Circuitous
(2013)
Cocoon
(2013)

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Down Beat     [2]

In a double review for Down Beat Josef Woodard notes that "the Chicago-based quintet steers perceptions toward comparisons to classic jazz quintet paradigm, different in form and function though it may be."[2]

The All About Jazz review by Glenn Astarita states "Never one to run short on creative sparks, the pianist is a sly arranger, and these works are asymmetrically synched within organization and improvisation. Moreover, several of these pieces are influenced by Thelonious Monk, primarily from an unconventional rhythmic standpoint amid odd-metered expressionism."[3]

The Point of Departure review by Troy Collins says "Karayorgis' Chicago quintet offers an intriguing alternative to his Boston-based ensemble, System Of 5. Similar, but distinct from its East Coast counterpart, the lineup documented on Circuitous explores territory consistent with Karayorgis' oeuvre, which demonstrates a masterful reinvention of post-bop vernacular, expertly balancing the accessibility of the mainstream with the vitalizing freedom of the avant-garde."[4]

Track listing edit

All compositions by Pandelis Karayorgis
  1. "Undertow" – 6:04
  2. "Nudge" – 6:30
  3. "Swarm" – 9:37
  4. "Circuitous" – 5:30
  5. "Vortex" – 8:52
  6. "Evenfall" – 4:36
  7. "Blue Line" – 9:15
  8. "Here in July" – 5:18
  9. "Souvenir" – 5:26

Personnel edit

References edit

  1. ^ Circuitous at Pandelis Karayorgis
  2. ^ a b Woodard, Josef. Circuitous review. Down Beat February 14: page 91. Print.
  3. ^ Astarita, Glenn. Circuitous review at All About Jazz
  4. ^ Collins, Troy. Circuitous review at Point of Departure