Thursday, November 5, 2009

Fahir ATAKOGLU - Istanbul In Blue 2007


Fahir ATAKOGLU - Istanbul In Blue 2007

Jazz

For his sixth recording, Turkish born pianist Fahir Atakoglu has gone retro, recalling the '80s contemporary New York City/Seventh Avenue South neo-bop, skunk funk, and fusion of the Brecker Brothers and Steps/Steps Ahead. Playing exclusively acoustic and not electric piano, he also employs the quite different sounding electric guitarists Mike Stern or Wayne Krantz on alternating tracks, adding Michael Brecker disciple Bob Franceschini, electric bass guitar pioneer Anthony Jackson, and the dynamic drummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez. Atakoglu attains the sound he seeks quite easily, a bit derivative, but exciting and refreshingly done some 25 years after the fact. Of course the twist is the folkloric Turkish nuances, rhythm, and elements he incorporates, and that he has added on from his 2005 breakthrough CD If, which concentrated on his trio with Jackson and Hernandez. The result is more jaw dropping music from this most awesome, brilliant, death-defying pianist who deserves a ton of wider recognition and admiration. On the more electrified side, urged on by Stern's characteristic high-pitched guitar, "Fuse On" kicks off the CD with an unmistakable Brecker/Steps Big Apple Broadway swagger and strut, while a staggered, choppy staccato accent identifies, but does not update "Sync-Op." In the pocket American style, the hip and contemporary "Aheste" has Stern at his most resonant, a ringing endorsement of Atakoglu's attempt to drag this music into the now. Krantz is a more subdued, but still substantial player, and he stokes a distinct Turkish fire with embers instead of flames as on the 7/8 beat of "Black Sea" a heavy Mid-Eastern dialect paced by Atakoglu's cascading piano lines, and on the dervish-like 10/8 measures of "Trapped" with an industrial guitar woven through the pianists probing inventions. Combining the different influences, the outstanding "ESS" is a minimalist tune fronted by Franceschini's lurid tenor lines, a more balanced timbre between all the instruments, and an out and out rock & roll bridge. It cannot be overemphasized that Jackson and Hernandez together are killin', and are about as unstoppable a tandem as there can be going in modern jazz or fusion musics — period! If you go back to the first recordings of Steps when Michael Brecker was with them, the similarities are quite clear, but they didn't have a pianist as formidable as Atakoglu. There's a lot to enjoy on this recording from a contemporary and historical standpoint, and as listeners should definitely own a copy of If, this one shows a willingness to expand and employ different styles, and bodes well for Atakoglu's next adventurous excursion.
By Michael G. Nastos. AMG.
**
I have listened to Istanbul In Blue by Fahir Atakoglu, his compositions and grooves are very unique and you can hear everyone in the band really feeling the music throughout the album. Fahir's piano playing is so much integrated with his odd tempo compositions; especially the track Black Sea is a very good example. The melody of Four Corners is so deep and so naive at the same time. You don't have to have the technique of Michelle Camilo or Herbie Hancock to touch the hearts of listeners. This track and many others in Istanbul In Blue touch parts in listener's hearts that I as a jazz listener of 35 years have not experienced. Its because his melodies, grooves are really from another part of the world (Turkey) yes but so universal as well.They are almost refreshing:-) Same in his other one "IF", with Fahir's music you can immediately drawn into a 5/8 or a 7/8 or 10/8 groove as easily to a 4/4, because of his melodies. His improvisations are very much within the composition and in complete sync with overall dynamics of the band; Mike Stern, Anthony Jackson, Wayne Krantz, Bob Franceschini, And Horacio Hernandez play incredible. Fahir, for me, doesn't play the usual runs we are used to hear from a piano player; when he does his solos he has his own interpretation of his own melodies. It's his own color, style; and its admirable...its almost what Monk did to you when you heard him the first time.;Fahir's music and his playing grows in you.
That is why anyone who wants to listen to not only a good band playing solid fusion compositions of East and West ,but also a very unique composer and pianist too , buy this album , listen and you will agree...
By  John Manfield.
**
Fahir Atakoglu- Synthesizer, Piano, Vocals, Producer, Fender Rhodes
Bob Franceschini- Clarinet (Bass), Flute (Alto), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)
Horacio "El Negro" Hernández- Conga, Drums
Anthony Jackson- Double Bass
Wayne Krantz- Guitar  
Mike Stern- Guitar  
**
01. Fuse On 3:50
02. Sync Op 7:27
03. Black Sea 7:01
04. Aheste 7:22
05. Connection 5:53
06. Ess 7:00
07. Gypsy in Me 5:20
08. Four Corners 6:59
09. Trapped 6:23
10. Istanbul in Blue 5:27
**
NoPassword
*
DLink
*

No comments:

Post a Comment