Avital, Omer
Smalls, 2006, CD
Instrument: Guitar
Issue: 12.3
Jazz Ruler Type: Fusion
Performance: 4
Sound: 5
Score: 
O’s Notes: Bassist Omar Avital teams up with a formidable cast of musicians: Ali Jackson (d), Mark Turner (ts), Greg Tardy (ts, fl), Myron Walden (as) and Charles Owens (ts) for this set. The music is never congested and the compositions are well developed (mostly over 8 minutes) allowing each man to play and explore the full extent of their creative boundaries. Avital wrote each of the tunes and his work includes a lot of dynamics and air as on “Ballad” which draws the listener into the music. The saxes are wailing on “12 Tribes”, an upbeat cooker. This continues with abandon on “Kentucky Girl” with Tardy’s sax screaming emotion. There is a lot of variety and it is an overall strong performance.
Publicist: Allegro
