Praise for The Stillness of Motion
Ten intriguing pieces in an intimate ambience comprise guitarist Scott Hesse’s The Stillness of Motion. The vibrantly organic music brims with spontaneity within its intricately constructed framework, occupying a space between a free blowing session and a rigidly adhered interpretation. This delightful and seamless blend of the improvised and the composed is one of the major distinguishing features of the album. The easy flow of ideas among the members of the trio while maintaining their individuality is another.
The Hesse-penned “Ravel” perfectly demonstrates the first concept. The slow simmering nocturnesque ballad opens with Hesse’s melancholic and resonant chords that gradually expand over drummer Makaya McCraven’s propulsive and martial beats and bassist Clark Sommers’ quietly determined reverberations. The tune naturally transforms to a provocative three-way extemporization before it concludes with a flawless and clever return to the main theme.
McCraven’s inventive brush patterns open “Laws of Motian,” another original that showcases the band’s elegant esprit de corps. Hesse and Sommers punctuate McCraven’s resounding monologue with brief and tense refrains. The track transforms into a lyrical and angular ensemble conversation to which Hesse contributes boppish and bluesy touches. Sommers takes a thrillingly agile and complex solo before Hesse restates the head over McCraven’s percolating rhythms. Curious mood shifts keep the record engaging without affecting its overall cohesive structure. The cinematic “Blue Sketch” features Hesses’s muscular soulful swagger and McCraven’s thunderous polyrhythms while Hesse highlights his virtuosity on the rocking “Hendrix.” His thrilling and tight acrobatics play out against McCraven’s relentless percussive drive and Sommers’ crackling bass lines.
In stimulating contrast, introspective poetry fills the contemplative “Sage.” Hesse lets loose unhurried waves of shimmering phrases while Sommers makes his strings lilt in bittersweet tones. The Stillness of Motion is an intellectually satisfying disc that is also quite melodic and accessible. Hesse and his sidemen have created a work that is simultaneously cerebral and emotive, logical and passionate. It certainly makes for a rewarding listening experience. By: Hrayr Attarian, ChicagoJazz.com
Seattle based Origin continues to refine and redefine the spirit of 21st century jazz with a number of releases that borders on prodigious. Among their many fine recent titles is The Stillness Of Motion by The Scott Hesse Trio. Chicago based Hesse has composed a range of instrumental trio tracks while receiving support from his trio mates, Clark Sommers (bass) and Makaya McCraven (drums). The sound of this CD is very improv based free jazz. A guitar educator by profession, Hesse approaches his guitar like a sonic architect, building layers of guitar sounds. The sound of The Stillness Of Motion is very experimental - no chord melody music or easy listening stuff here. Perhaps Hesse sums it up best in his CD liner notes when he says, ‘I love the space provided in a trio setting and love working with Clark and Makaya. The music on The Stillness Of Motion is fluid, yet still. It contains several captured moments in time that will never happen the same way again.’ One of the best jazz guitar albums of 2014, The Stillness Of Motion is very hard core instrumental guitar jazz played by masters of the art form.--Robert Silverstein, mwe3.com
I have no doubt that jazz listeners in search of total-cool work in trio sessions will love Scott's splendid guitar work (he's joined by Clark Sommers on bass & Makaya McCraven on drums) on this ten-song gem. Tunes like "Blues Sketch" definitely bear out their title… super jazz, to be sure. The beauty of the trio's playing is that there's nothing rushed or forced… it sounds as though they're right there in your living room, playing it all just for your ears - how nice that is! The other attractor (for this reviewer, anyway) is that they are all original compositions… as I listen to the stellar energy and excellent interplay between the players on my personal favorite tune on the album, "Laws of Motian", it's clear that original is better, as it always results in something you might not have expected. I give Scott & his musical cohorts a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.98. – Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation
The Hesse-penned “Ravel” perfectly demonstrates the first concept. The slow simmering nocturnesque ballad opens with Hesse’s melancholic and resonant chords that gradually expand over drummer Makaya McCraven’s propulsive and martial beats and bassist Clark Sommers’ quietly determined reverberations. The tune naturally transforms to a provocative three-way extemporization before it concludes with a flawless and clever return to the main theme.
McCraven’s inventive brush patterns open “Laws of Motian,” another original that showcases the band’s elegant esprit de corps. Hesse and Sommers punctuate McCraven’s resounding monologue with brief and tense refrains. The track transforms into a lyrical and angular ensemble conversation to which Hesse contributes boppish and bluesy touches. Sommers takes a thrillingly agile and complex solo before Hesse restates the head over McCraven’s percolating rhythms. Curious mood shifts keep the record engaging without affecting its overall cohesive structure. The cinematic “Blue Sketch” features Hesses’s muscular soulful swagger and McCraven’s thunderous polyrhythms while Hesse highlights his virtuosity on the rocking “Hendrix.” His thrilling and tight acrobatics play out against McCraven’s relentless percussive drive and Sommers’ crackling bass lines.
In stimulating contrast, introspective poetry fills the contemplative “Sage.” Hesse lets loose unhurried waves of shimmering phrases while Sommers makes his strings lilt in bittersweet tones. The Stillness of Motion is an intellectually satisfying disc that is also quite melodic and accessible. Hesse and his sidemen have created a work that is simultaneously cerebral and emotive, logical and passionate. It certainly makes for a rewarding listening experience. By: Hrayr Attarian, ChicagoJazz.com
Seattle based Origin continues to refine and redefine the spirit of 21st century jazz with a number of releases that borders on prodigious. Among their many fine recent titles is The Stillness Of Motion by The Scott Hesse Trio. Chicago based Hesse has composed a range of instrumental trio tracks while receiving support from his trio mates, Clark Sommers (bass) and Makaya McCraven (drums). The sound of this CD is very improv based free jazz. A guitar educator by profession, Hesse approaches his guitar like a sonic architect, building layers of guitar sounds. The sound of The Stillness Of Motion is very experimental - no chord melody music or easy listening stuff here. Perhaps Hesse sums it up best in his CD liner notes when he says, ‘I love the space provided in a trio setting and love working with Clark and Makaya. The music on The Stillness Of Motion is fluid, yet still. It contains several captured moments in time that will never happen the same way again.’ One of the best jazz guitar albums of 2014, The Stillness Of Motion is very hard core instrumental guitar jazz played by masters of the art form.--Robert Silverstein, mwe3.com
I have no doubt that jazz listeners in search of total-cool work in trio sessions will love Scott's splendid guitar work (he's joined by Clark Sommers on bass & Makaya McCraven on drums) on this ten-song gem. Tunes like "Blues Sketch" definitely bear out their title… super jazz, to be sure. The beauty of the trio's playing is that there's nothing rushed or forced… it sounds as though they're right there in your living room, playing it all just for your ears - how nice that is! The other attractor (for this reviewer, anyway) is that they are all original compositions… as I listen to the stellar energy and excellent interplay between the players on my personal favorite tune on the album, "Laws of Motian", it's clear that original is better, as it always results in something you might not have expected. I give Scott & his musical cohorts a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.98. – Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation