Zack Brock, Almost never was, Criss Cross Jazz (2012)

Posted on by Standard

    • Zach Brock: violin, baritone violin
    • Aaron Goldberg: piano
    • Matt Penman: bass
    • Eric Harland: drums

So I’ve finally gotten around to reviewing another Zach Brock CD. This is his first release with Criss Cross and it is a gem! Goldberg, Penman and Harland combine with Brock on a broad repertoire including three Brock originals and a genuinely diverse collection of other tunes. Standards by the likes of Joe Henderson and Thelonius Monk are interspersed with tunes not typically considered part of the jazz songbook. The closing tune is a Jimi Hendrix number. But in every instance Brock brings his unique sound and arrangements to the fore and the outcome is uniformly good.

On two of his originals he puts his bow down momentarily and plucks the violin (pizzicato for the musicians in the crowd), adding a completely different dimension to his sound. Brock also uses the entire range of his instrument to great effect. He also frequently plays harmonies with two strings, and has this incredible ability to make his fiddle growl.

The highlight for me was the title cut, Almost Never Was. This is one of those tunes that just grabs my attention and won’t let go until the final note is plays. I totally get why he decided to name the album after it. This CD gets my complete appreciation and recommendation. Check it out!

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