BEN THOMAS

TANGO PROJECT

Origin Records

Ben Thomas, bandoneon/vibraphone/percussion; Steve Schermer, bass; Gabe Hall-Rodrigues, piano; Laura Coronel & Elizabeth Phelps, violin; Eric Likkel, clarinet.

Ben Thomas makes music in a world where tradition and innovation meet.  He is deeply rooted in the authentic rhythms of Argentine tango, yet his spirit has a more

modern perspective.  Consequently, his compositions combine the traditional with the contemporary.

Opening with “The Promise of Morning” Gabe Hall-Rodrigues sets the tone on his piano.  The band joins in with the bandoneon of Ben Thomas played prominently.  A ballad called “Sonia’s Mask” follows.  It invites violins to enter the arrangement and Eric Likkel’s clarinet soaks up the spotlight. Thomas moves from bandoneon to vibraphone. As a multi-instrumentalist, he also plays percussion on this recording.

I enjoyed a song called “The Hat With the Grin and the Chuckle.”  This song, along with all the other eight tunes, are original compositions by Ben Thomas.  He brings a rare articulation and fluency to playing bandoneon, a challenging instrument for sure.  Thomas has also mastered the vibraphone where his rhythmic talents become obvious.  This particular song was dedicated to Thierry Rautureau, who brought Thomas and his friends so much joy.

The Thomas arrangements lead the listener to unexpected places, changing tempos and striding from one instrument to another to encourage musical moods that change like the wind.   One of Ben’s gifts is the way he sculpts compositions and arrangements to permeate atmospheres and capture the attention of his audiences.  On the song, “Other Afternoons” I find myself drawn into the staccato arrangement that dances into the universe.  While Thomas plays bandoneon, the violins soothe the arrangement with beauty.  In Ben’s hands, he transitions the music with moods.  This feels natural and transports the listener to a new musical place before we recognize where we are going. His transitions are calculated, but smooth.  You could say this artist has a composer and arranger talent that is a mix of maturity and mischief.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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