ATLANTIC ROAD TRIP

WATCH AS THE ECHO FALLS

Calligram Records

Chad McCullough, trumpet/flugelhorn/synthesizers/composer; Paul Towndrow, alto saxophone/flute/whistles/composer; Miro Herak, vibraphone/composer.

The album title for this second release by Atlantic Road Trip is captivating. The phrase, “Watch as the Echo Falls” made me pick this album out of the pile on my desk. Very poetic, like the music itself! Their first artistic adventure was titled “One” and used a full quintet to explore folk music from places around the globe through the eyes of three jazz musicians.

This latest album release once again reaches into the culturally rich music from all over the globe and explores it from the perspective of a jazz trio: trumpet, a woodwind player and vibraphone. Miro Herak, (vibe player), provides the architectural framework and foundation for this group. In fact, this was recorded in Herak’s hometown of The Hague, a city in the Netherlands.  They include three of his compositions during this production.

“When I composed ‘Past Memories’ I aimed to evoke a sense of nostalgia and reflection, allowing listeners to journey through their own memories while experiencing the music. I hope to create a space where audiences can connect with their own stories, evoking a sense of peace and introspection,” Miro Herak explained one of his original compositions.

Many of the other compositions on this album were written by Chad McCullough. The opening tune titled “Exordium” was written by the trumpet player and sounds quite Scottish.  I notice in the album credits that one of their studio sessions took place in Glasgow, Scotland.  Their second song, “Parting of the Adriatic” was contributed by multi-instrumentalist, Paul Towndrow.  He is one of Scotland’s most versatile and inventive voices.  This tune sounds very much like a Scottish jig.

“it’s more than just a rhythmic experiment; it’s an attempt to find the exact intersection where our individual histories meet,” Towndrow says in their press package.

McCullough’s tune, “Echo Falls” offers a straightforward folk melody in 5/4.  It is anchored by Herak’s recurring ostinato on vibraphone, that creates a driving almost hypnotic theme throughout the piece.

They close with McCullough’s song “Singularity,” a song inspired by the West African balafon. The composition takes its name from the trio’s unified sense of purpose and focus, using folk/jazz as their inspiration.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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