David Kikoski - Phoenix Rising - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Nation of Language's first two albums, Introduction, Presence (2020), and A Way Forward (2021), came as pandemic godsends gorgeous, relatable soundtracks to our collective doldrums. But it was their last LP, Strange Disciple (2023), that catapulted the group from cultural standouts to critical darlings, with the album being named Rough Trade's Album of the Year. With that , Pitchfork wrote that the band Inchare learning what it means to get bigger and better.Inch This is Devaney's calling soulfully translating individual despair into a comforting, collective mourning. The single InchNow That You're Gone,Inch which radiates and reverberates with a devastating wistfulness, was inspired by witnessing his godfather's tragic death from ALS, and his parents' role as caretakers for this ailing friend. At it's heart, the song is a reflection of how friends can be there for each other, and also highlights a theme throughout the record the pain and lost promise of friendships that fall apart. On Dance Called Memory, the band once again collaborated with friend and Strange Disciple producer Nick Millhiser (LCD Soundsystem, Holy Ghost!). InchWhat's so great about Nick is his ability to make us feel like we don't need to do what might be expected of us,Inch says synth player Aidan Noell, who, along with bassist Alex MacKay, rounds out the Nation of Language lineup. They imbued Dance Called Memory with a shifted palette - sampling chopped-up drum breaks on InchI'm Not Ready for the ChangeInch for a touch of Loveless-era My Bloody Valentine, or smashing all of the percussion of InchIn Another LifeInch through a synthesizer to cast a shade of early-2000s electronic music. Ultimately, the hope was to weave raw vulnerability and humanity into a synth-heavy album. InchThere is a dichotomy between the Kraftwerk school of thought and the Brian Eno school of thought, each of which I've

Here, on his sixth Criss Cross , pianist David Kikoski triologues with killer bass/drum team Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart in a lyrical evocation of his introspective side on a program of six originals and two meaty jazz originals. Interplay, close listening and unending flow abide throughout the proceedings. Album Tracks 1. In Your Own Sweet Way 2. Detachment 3. 7/4 Ballad 4. Inner Urge 5. Juriki 6. Adorable You 7. K's Blues 8. Presage 9. Tag Blues

The dynamic duo of pianist David Kikoski and bassist Boris Kozlov is a triumph of musicality and virtuosity. There's some kind of magic happening between the two kindred spirits that goes beyond the notes. The musical connection between the two goes back more than 20 years. They have continued to play together regularly over the years in groups like the Mingus Big Band, in Kikoski's own trio and the all-star post-bop cooperative Opus 5. You can feel their sense of telepathy throughout Sure Thing and it is readily apparent on Kikoski's original compositions like InchB Flat Tune,Inch InchEInch and InchStrength for Change,Inch on the swinging version of John Coltrane's InchSatelliteInch and the duo's faithful reading of keyboardist Keith Emerson's classically influenced InchFugueInch from InchThe Endless EnigmaInch. Their playful, relaxed chemistry permeates all eight tunes here and makes Sure Thing a true work of collaborative genius.