Album Review: Being from Chris Rottmayer

Album:  Being
Artist:  Chris Rottmayer
Label:  Shifting Paradigm
Website:  chrisrottmayer.com

Being, the fourth release from pianist and leader Chris Rottmayer, is a compilation of original music, written by Rottmayer as part of a study of jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller and his recordings with the Woody Shaw Quintet.  With that in mind, the music has a statuesque hard bop parlance reminiscent of McCoy Tyner and an intimate jazz club flare reflective of Art Tatum.

Five compositions are reflections of the city of Paris, France, such as “Pigalle," which is driven by a slow strutting bass line played by Rufus Reid as Rottmayer's keys drizzle gently across the smooth melodic soundscape.  The tune leaves the listener with an impression of the famous former red-light district of Pigalle, renown for its dancehalls and venues of entertainment, as being relaxing and peaceful.  

“Châtelet,” another impression of Paris, projects the bustling activity around the Paris metro station with flailing trumpet toots performed by Russ Johnson.  The track is offset by the lounging stride of Rottmayer's keys ruminating leisurely along “La Seizième,” reflecting the tranquilizing ambience of one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Paris, the 16th arrondissement.

Another tune representing Paris is "Pont Neuf," portraying the lush landscape of the city with wispy keys and the breathy tweets of Johnson's flugelhorn.  Inspired by standing at the Pont Neuf bridge and viewing of the Eiffel Tower, the track brandishes a glistening texture that is warm and uplifting.  Finally, “Rue des Lombards” is one of the most famous streets for jazz music in Paris, being home to several of the most famous French jazz clubs.  The upbeat tempo of Matt Endres's drums and Reid's bopping bass line support the frolicking stride of Rottmayer's keys and the bubbling twirls of Johnson's trumpet.

“Re-United” takes the Wayne Shorter tune “United,” famously recorded by Shaw and Miller, and shrouds it in new melodic motifs as the swift fluttering of Johnson's trumpet gives the track an impetuous quality.  The serenade-like ambience of “Autumn Evening” is an homage to Miller’s beautiful ballad playing, while “Song of Modes” plays off of Shaw’s “Song of Songs” and highlights the exotic lure of the trumpet.  “Ballerina Dance” is inspired by Shaw’s “Katerina Ballerina” bolstering the smooth sensuality of Johnson's trumpet furls.

The harmonious discourse in Rottmayer's sequencing and dynamics is attractive and smooth.  A freelance jazz artist, composer, and jazz educator who calls Madison, WI his home, Rottmayer's previous releases, So in Love and Sunday at Pilars, both spent considerable time on the Jazzweek jazz albums chart.  Besides his freelance jazz work, Rottmayer is also a Lecturer of Music Theory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Rottmayer not only simulates the conversing spirit of Mulgrew Miller but he captures the contemporary parlance of the hard bop milieu.

Musicians:
Chris Rottmayer - piano
Russ Johnson - trumpet and flugelhorn
Matt Endres - drum set
Rufus Reid - acoustic bass