Part I by Indigo
Carrying a luxurious, grown-up clout, the classic combination of bass guitar and saxophone is given deeper contemplation
To some extent it's not a massive leap from the Folk Jazz Pop of his previous band Tululah to this new outfit Indigo (a downtempo thread runs through both) but Nick Roder's new album leans heavily to the downtempo side, with its sincerely stripped-back and mellow vibe. Using just bass guitar and (with Jon DiNapoli on) tenor saxophone, the nine tracks, bare naked and beautiful, seduce with subtle stealth.
Following in the footsteps of Jazz greats and inspired by contemporary peers Sam Gendel and Sam Wilkes, the union of the two instruments is harmony exemplified. While far from treading new ground, the music is also a mile from noodly, and there's nothing pastiche about the quiet and reflective mood embodied within. It's simply wonderful.
This is the first release in a planned three-part series, with the second part exploring a wider spectrum of sound, including string quartet and voice, and the final part, a collaboration with choreographer Siobhan McKenna, focussing on percussive movement.