ITAI KRISS

DAYBREAK

Jojo Records

Itai Kriss, flutes/composer; Adam Birnbaum, piano; Luke Sellick, bass; Anthony Pinciotti, drums; SPECIAL GUESTS: Benny Benack III, trumpet; Yotam Silverstein, guitar.

From the first tinkling keys of the piano, I can picture the sunrise peaking over the horizon like a nosy child.  The tune is “Daybreak” and the flute first sounds like the wind, then becomes a bird that flutters awake, to soar across the sky of my listening room. This album chronicles the natural progression of a single day in the life of flautist, Itai Kriss.

The second cut is titled, “Drivin’” and it speeds along at a swinging pace, featuring special guest Benny Benack III on trumpet. This is followed by another original composition from the Itai Kriss collection.  He has written all three of these first played songs. This one is a full of spice  and Latin flavor called “Beleza.”  It features a wonderful guitar solo by guest Yotam Silverstein.  Pianist Adam Birnbaum also offers us an excellent solo on the 88-keys. Then Kriss dances into the spotlight with his flute on fire.

On the familiar “East of the Sun” standard, Itai Kriss opens the arrangement with solo flute, then plays the melody accompanied only by Luke Sellick on bass. Birnbaum and Anthony Pinciotti join in later to add flash and fullness to the arrangement.  The flute player has penned ten of the twelve songs on this album.  He is a wonderful composer.

Each of his songs express a vivid melody and chords that invite exploration and improvisation. His tight little ensemble takes advantage of each time they are invited to improvise during their solo. Itai Kriss’s composition called “O Jardim” is quite beautiful and melodic. “Uphill” is a lowdown blues that sounds dirge-like. I can almost hear pickaxes pounding hard earth. This is a work song that’s energized and upbeat. “Upfront” is also up tempo, with interesting breaks in the arrangement and a wonderful drum solo by Anthony Pinciotti.

A tune Kriss has written called “Delicacy” brings out the tenderness in his flute when he plays this ballad. A tune he named “Coisinha” quickly becomes another one of my favorites.  It sounds like a party.

Itai Kriss is the Pied Piper who pulls the crowd happily to their feet with his flute. Silverstein adds an engaging guitar solo to the mix, speared ahead by Pinciotti’s percussive drum licks and Luke Sellick’s rhythmic basslines. Birnbaum is always on-point, using his piano to sing us lyrical, melodic stories of his own. Afterwards, the drum solo soaks up the attention. Kriss closes this album with a gospel arrangement of his tune, “In the Light.”  His album is full of spirit and joy.  Itai Kriss is not only a great flute player, he’s also an excellent composer.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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