Search - Jesse Van Ruller :: Circles

Brilliant organ/guitar jazz

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 01/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not my favorite genre, but this is a pretty killer disc. Guitarist van Ruller, the first European ever to win (in 1995) the prestigious Thelonius Monk Competition--judged, no less, by Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Jim Hall, Pat Martino, and Mark Whitfield--is quickly becoming one of the giant jazzmen of his generation. Already with eight records under his belt as leader and more than a dozen as sideman, he also teaches at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and is a leading member of the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw.



Here he finds himself in first-class company with Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Bill Stewart (drums), and Sam Yahel (organ). The band swings like crazy--not surprising, with such a lineup--and completely tunes into the leader's songs (six of eight selections are van Ruller's) and concept, be it hard-chargin' post-bop ("One"), modern soul-jazz ("Circles"), poignant ballad ("Here Comes the Sun" [not the Beatles' tune), boppish-funk (Blake's "Black Dahlia"), triple-time ("33 Waltz"), or that old guitar chestnut, "Gone with the Wind."



As I say, not particularly my cup of tea, but these great musicians just play brilliantly, swinging their butts off, the tunes are all catchy and hook-heavy, and the vibe drips casual perfection. Highly recommended."