Product Description

Juno award-winning Vancouver guitar/oud player Gordon Grdina 'continues to passionately explore the depths of jazz improvisation, cross-cultural fusions and the fun that comes with cutting loose' (Stuart Derdeyn). Following on Inroads (2017), this second release by his wildly eclectic NY jazz-rock quartet combines intricate, through-composed counterpoint with the ebb and flow of dynamic yet focused improvisation. The band comprises Oscar Noriega (Tim Berne) on alto sax and bass clarinet), Russ Lossing (Paul Motian) on piano/Rhodes/clavinet, and Satoshi Takeishi (Ben Monder) on drums. Grdina takes inspiration from the complexity of Bartok, the open spaces and free form lyricism of Paul Bley, the energy and logical construction of ideas of Soundgarden, and the delicacy of Webern. He also cites Tim Berne as a major influence (Noriega is a member of Berne's ECM band Snakeoil). Grdina's distinctive approach to cross-genre playing and composing draws together elements that you wouldn't expect to hear together. For example, piano and oud improvise a spacey, knotty duet on the 15-minute piece 'Wayward.' Grdina's unique, virtuosic style of oud playing, though based in a thorough understanding of Arabic classical and folk music, liberates the instrument to explore textures and melodic territory far removed from tradition. Likewise his guitar style draws on deep jazz roots, combining them with a full-on rock intensity and a fascination with challenging structures at the outer reaches of tonality.

Review

Cooper's Park: Malcontent jazz that veers wildly but never becomes dissonant, Grdina continues to take improv and exploration into new territories that at once sound like Bernstein outtakes from ''West Side Story'' and lounge music from Mars. Avant garde for the practical minded that want to enjoy and not just show they know something you don't know, this is a swell party for eggheads that all are invited to.

Chris Spector

Midwest Record 7/30/2019

The group's output lands on either side of the chamberlike feel of his early trio: complex, slaloming pieces that provide a hothouse environment for charged improvisation on one hand, and atmospheric works that privilege color and mood on the other. Whether Grdina is playing guitar or oud, everything makes sense together.

Peter Margasak --Chicago Reader
Inroads is bold and downright great. (9/10)

John Garratt --PopMatters
Inroads doesn't get any less adventuresome or more predictable as it unfolds. There's frisky interplay, free chaos, curious wandering, screechy assault, giddy jabbing...a bravado display of strength and finesse.

Jeff Tamarkin --JazzTimes Magazine