VALLEY VOICE

STARS, ENGINES

Elastic Recordings

Harrison Argatoff, tenor saxophone/compositions; Michael Davidson, vibraphone; Dan Fortin, acoustic bass; Ian Wright, drums.

Toronto tenor saxophonist, Harrison Argatoff has surrounded himself with an all-star quartet to kick off Argatoff’s debut album release as a group.  They call themselves “Valley Voice.”

A native of semi-rural British Columbia, a place that boasts clean air and clear skies, this album becomes a vehicle to revere life and the natural world.  An account from his grandmother about always looking at the stars before bedtime, relishing their sparkling beauty and appreciating nature, became an inspiration for the album title.

The title tune, that closes this recording, celebrates a shimmering night sky brought alive by the vibraphone of Michael Davidson. Dan Fortin’s acoustic bass harmonizes with Argatoff’s tenor saxophone, before the woodwind player steps into the spotlight to solo creatively on his sax.  At points, the saxophone and the vibraphone seems to be having a very private conversation with each other, speaking in musical sentences.

Argatoff has composed all eight songs on this album. His music celebrates not only jazz, but a blend of chamber music. He includes his European classical background and his appreciation for jazz and the Coltrane era.  Surprisingly, Argatoff is not only a woodwind player, but an active contemporary dancer. This may influence his fluid phrasing and rhythmical momentum. Both infuse his contemporary and creative playing.

The group’s opening tune, “Wishlow” is the name of a set of rapids in the Slocan River of British Columbia. It flows, ebbs and moves from a smooth and placid watery scene to a more energized body of work, with Wright’s drums choppy and pushing the piece forward. Argatoff’s repetitive saxophone line becomes more aggressive as the arrangement builds. He and Davidson (on vibes) improvise broadly.

On Argatoff’s tune “Analemma” Dan Fortin’s acoustic bass is prominent in the arrangement, walking slowly and deliberately underneath the melodic structure. Harrison’s original composition called “As Though I knew” let’s Ian Wright shine brightly throughout the arrangement on his drum kit.  This tune leans delicately into the Avant-garde.

This is an album steeped with creativity. Like a rich, relaxing tea, it embraces the sounds and textures of Mother Nature, while steeped in the freedom of jazz and also chamber music. Much of this album is meditative music, lending us arrangements that tickle the senses and inspire our own imaginative thinking.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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