Wayne Horvitz Whispers, Hymns And a Murmur

Husband and wife pianists Wayne Horvitz and Robin Holcomb takes turns at the keyboard on this 2004 release, the couple's first recording sharing equal billing. They are together and yet alone, as the title promises, each plays solo piano. The instrument is a Steinway D; the programme they have sequenced includes original compositions, free improvisations and three covers, including Wayne Shorter’s beautiful Armageddon. The live-to-DSD recording in a small concert hall creates an intimate, palpable atmosphere.

The debut album from Wayne Horvitz's sideline acoustic project Sweeter Than The Day expresses the reflective side of pianist Horvitz's temperament: bittersweet, melodically distinctive chamber jazz, an evocative combination of swing, bop, blues, West Coast cool and the occasional edge of free jazz, with echoes of French impressionism and other classical piano music and popular music of the 1950s and 1960s.

Four young Seattle brass players, all relocated to New York City to study at Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music, decided to form a quartet in late 2011. Through much experimentation they discovered a colorful collective sound that drew from American folk music, indie rock, jazz, and classical music. For the next two years they performed constantly in both cities, creating and developing a large repertoire of original compositions. In early 2013 The Westerlies were approached by their Seattle-based teacher, friend, and mentor, Wayne Horvitz, to create a record of his music.

The Gravitas Quartet is pianist Wayne Horvitz’s new improvising chamber ensemble. Its members are all highly distinctive voices on their instruments, the sound of the group is unique, and the playing is both classically poised and jazzily exuberant and inventive. What really makes the music shine though is Wayne’s gift as a composer, the way his themes and harmonies insinuate themselves into the listener’s consciousness and often touch you in those vulnerable places with their tart nostalgia and bittersweet melancholy.

The Gravitas Quartet is pianist Wayne Horvitz’s new improvising chamber ensemble. Its members are all highly distinctive voices on their instruments, the sound of the group is unique, and the playing is both classically poised and jazzily exuberant and inventive. What really makes the music shine though is Wayne’s gift as a composer, the way his themes and harmonies insinuate themselves into the listener’s consciousness and often touch you in those vulnerable places with their tart nostalgia and bittersweet melancholy.

When Wayne Horvitz decided to record a new piano record, his first leading his own group in 15 years, he took his time until he found the combination of players that was just right. The wait was worth it: thanks to a great piano and studio, 11 of his distinctive tunes and the members of his organ-based group Zony Mash playing unplugged, the music on this 2002 release shines. Foregrounding melody and harmony through the gentle voicings of the piano/guitar front line, concise solos and thoughtful group interplay, the program sets a leisurely pace while evoking a range of styles and feelings. Impressionistic ballads blend with mid-tempo songs steeped in the history of jazz, R&B, rock 'n' roll, soul, funk, blues, gospel and the avant-garde. A chamber jazz homage to musical roots, Forever is an open-hearted yet serenely beautiful record.

Working together for a few decades before pairing down to this duo, this duo knows how to ply their jazzbo chops in an avant chamber way as opposed to just laying out an array of art jazz for you to pick through. Eggheaded without the usual snootiness that goes with so much of the genre, this comes across as a fine recital with a point of view that you can get behind. There's only two of them, but they know how to fill your head with sound.

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