While the cover of Jim Witzel’s 2022 album Feelin’ It revealed its dual aesthetic as “Trio & Quartet,” the ultra-versatile veteran guitarist is so dedicated to his current four piece unit that his appropriately titled follow-up Breaking Through Gently is attributed to the Jim Witzel Quartet. His brief but eventful liner notes clarifies the incredible, multi-faceted history shared by the core duo of him and pianist Phil Aaron, which includes having collaborated in their erstwhile group Hyperion.
Adding here to their effortlesly locked in, brothers from another mother communication and overall aesthetic are the newer rhythm section members, drummer Jason Lewis (who played on Feelin’ It) and bassist Dan Feiszli, who engineered and mixed that project. As Witzel tells it, when the four met for their first rehearsal for the new album, “Phil and I were amazed by how musically intuitive Jason and Dan were with the new material.”
Off and flying as if they had all been playing together like this for years, Witzel and company zip through a series of intricate and fascinating compositions by Witzel and Aaron, starting with the guitarist’s bustling, whimsical and intensely percussive opener “My Compass” and Aaron’s one two punch of the elegant and lyrical “Firefly Waltz” and the cheerful, jumpy romp “The Celebration.”
Highlights from that point include the high energy, piano and guitar solo driven “Abjohn,” which captures the innovation and thoughtful spirit of Witzel’s teacher, mentor and friend, John Abercrombie (who appeared on Witzels’ 1993 debut album Give and Take); a somber meditation on Paul Simon’s wistful classic “Old Friends”; and the wildly adventurous “Breaking Through Gently,” which includes some of Witzel and Aaron’s most dynamic improvisations over Lewis’ vibrant and inventive drum an high hat fusion.
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