Arbor - 2024 - Arbor

(43:55; Pkmusic)






















Track list:
1. Polygonal 4:24
2. Fundamental 6:37
3. In Shambles 5:35
4. Sketch 5:12
5. Counterfactual 5:27
6. Blues 4:29
7. Dream Machine 5:43
8. Nicotine 6:28

Line-up:
Michalis Tsiftsis - guitars
Yiannis Vagianos - bass
Yiannis Papadopoulos - piano
Nick Thessalonikefs - drums


Greek band Arbor is, from what I understand, a fairly recent unit, a quartet of like-minded people that founded a band for, among other reasons, mutual ecological concerns. Using music as their tool to share their concerns about topics in this category as well as, to quote the booklet that follow this CD, to celebrate the enduring resilience of nature through their music. "Arbor" is the band's debut album, and was released through the label Pkmusic towards the end of 2024.

Jazz is the field this foursome have chosen to explore, and they venture into this landscape in an instrumental manner. The piano and the guitar are the clear lead instruments here, usually alternating in having the lead roles or combining the lead role in more of an intertwined effort. The bass gets occasional lead sequences too, while the drummer gets to showcase his expressive sides in a bit more of a supporting role.

While this is an album that can be described as expressive on a few different levels, this is a band that have opted for a more understated manner in which to showcase their abilities. Flow and melody are the dominant aspects of the greater majority of the songs here, and again with a bit of an understated manner in which to go about this. Wandering piano and guitar leads of a more careful and delicate nature are the defining aspects of the instrument leads on this production. Light in tone and always with an ear or two towards the execution being of an elegant nature.

We do get a few exceptions to this of course, with the composition 'Blues' being a bit more of a strict expressive affair with a tad more chaotic tendencies, and earlier on 'Fundamental' use slower pace and dampened guitar riffs to create a subtly dramatic and at times ever so slightly ominous mood and atmosphere. And at last we have the concluding 'Nicotine', which expands the scope of elegant displays ever so slightly by alternating between gentler, flowing passages and more powerful surges where the intensity increase each time a new surge unfolds.

Exceptions and slight exceptions aside, this is an album that should speak to those who prefer their instrumental jazz to be flowing, elegant and melodic first and foremost. And an appreciation for the use of understated expressive details will probably come in handy too. For those who tend to enjoy this specific kind of jazz, this is production that explore such landscapes in a confident, convincing and compelling manner.

Olav M. Björnsen, December 2024

Links:
https://www.pkmusik.com/

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