Positive energy is something that is sadly missing from the world today. Every time a person turns on the television and radio, everything is negative. Keeping that in mind, finding sources of positive energy is more important than ever nowadays. The Greg Abate Quartet early this year, offered exactly that late this past January in the form of its new album, fittingly titled, yes, Positive Energy. Released Jan. 17 through Summit Records, the 11-song record will certainly leave listeners feeling positive through each of its unique arrangements, not the least notable of which being its opener/title track, which will be examined shortly. ‘Give Flight To Imagination,’ the album’s penultimate entry, is another notable addition to the record that ensures that positivity with which listeners are left. It will be discussed a little later. ‘Hazy Moon,’ which comes much earlier in the album, is yet another example of the record’s ability to leave listeners feeling so positive. When it and the other songs noted here are considered alongside the rest of the album’s offerings, the whole of the 68-minute record proves easily to be among the best of this year’s field of new jazz albums.
Positive Energy, the new album from the Greg Abate Quartet (the group’s third but Abate’s 10th overall recording – including studio recordings and live recordings – as a band leader), is a strong new offering from the veteran saxophonist and his fellow musicians, John Rangel (piano), Terry Burns (bass) and Dave Post (drums). The album is of note because as the record’s title infers, it delivers on its promise of positive energy from beginning to end. The album’s opener/title track, which was composed by Abate, is just one supporting example of that statement. Abate leads the way on the saxophone. Post’s steady time keeping on the ride cymbal pairs expertly with Rangel’s equally light, percussive work on piano to form a solid foundation for the song. Abate’s fluid performance alongside those of his band mates gives the song a familiar vintage bop feel a la Charlie Parker, Cole Porter, and Cannonball Adderly among others. As the song progresses, Abate lets his band mates each get their moment in the light, with Rangel’s solo sounding like something one might expect from one of Vince Guaraldi’s records. The dual solo section from Post and Burns makes for so much warmth and depth in its own right while Rangel’s subtle piano line here is the perfect accent of sorts. The whole from beginning to end is a great, solid start to the album.
Looking at the album’s liner notes, it is stated that this song, again composed by Abate (some of the songs on this record were also composed by Rangel), was meant to be a way of expressing his hopefulness that the Covid-19 pandemic, which had spread globally at the time – would end sooner rather than later. No doubt it was difficult for anyone at the time to be positive and hopeful. So, the positive mindset that Abate and company exhibit here becomes especially welcoming. What’s more, even though the song was composed during the pandemic, it still can serve as a source of inspiration, hope and positivity in these dark, difficult times.
‘Positive Energy’ is just one of the songs featured here that exhibits so wonderfully the positive energy for which the album is titled. Far later in the album’s run, ‘Give Flight To Imagination’ exhibits that positivity in its own way. Running just over six minutes, this song, composed by Rangel, runs just over six minutes (six minutes, four seconds to be exact). It is the polar opposite of the album’s opener/title track. This composition is so subdued in its presentation. Even having been composed by Rangel, Abate still leads the way in this song. According to the album’s liner notes, the song was inspired by a quote from none other than Plato, stating that “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” Plato could not have been more correct. The quartet expertly captures the positive, contemplative mood that this quote clearly set in Rangel’s mind. Rangel shows that throughout his performance (including his solo) as does Abate in his own controlled performance. The perfectly placed cymbal crashes and runs on the toms that Post performs add their own touch to that whole, as does Burns’ low end on the bass. All things considered, the quartet’s work here does so well in capturing the contemplative but still positive mindset that is meant to be illustrated here.
Yet one more example of the positive energy and mood established throughout Positive Energy comes early in the album’s run in the form of ‘Hazy Moon.’ Another of Abate’s compositions, this jazz waltz was inspired apparently by Abate and his partner Kerry’s love of stargazing. According to the liner notes, the pair saw the “hazy moon” one night during some stargazing. Anyone who has ever stargazed will attest to the relaxed, positive mindset developed by that simple pleasure. That mood is perfectly encapsulated here by the group in whole. One can imagine sitting, looking up at the moon, the stars, all of it. Keeping that in mind, it is yet another example of the positivity that this record delivers. When it is considered alongside the other works examined here and with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole therein makes the album a welcome addition to this year’s field of new jazz offerings.
Positive Energy, the latest studio recording from the Greg Abate Quartet is a strong new offering from the veteran saxophonist and his latest group of musicians. That is due to the songs that make the album’s title live up to its expectations. Each of the songs examined here make that clear. When they are considered alongside the remainder of the album’s entries, the whole therein makes the album one more welcome addition to this year’s field of new jazz albums.
Positive Energy is available now. More information on this and other titles from Summit Records is available at:
Website: https://summitrecords.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/SummitRecords
