Kelly, Keith – “People Who Left, The” – [Edgetone Records]

Thurston Hunger   10/2/2014   CD, Jazz

Quartet with very nice interplay between reeds (Keith
Kelly) and guitar (Ari Chersky). Check out the lead-off
track where Chersky builds a kind of interstellar series
of ricochet effect clouds. Or “KYNNET” that pits a hyper
cycling Kelly against slower angled notes from Chersky.
Drummer Shaun Lowecki adds to speed start on that, but
it all tapers down nicely. I feel like Chersky delivers
a sort of Twilight Zone soundtrack to many pieces. The
tension is at its high point on “Wince” as Doug Stuart
bows his bass some, Kelly starts with a flying flute woven
through an organic drum forest, eventually sax spurred
flurry whips up before a toy xylophone end. “Apologetica”
has Chersky doing that sort of watercolor guitarwork (his
online solo album is more like that). Sleep funk awakens
on “Push Push” probably the most fun for the rhythm core.
Is someone (Ari?) dropping a little Rhodes into the mix?
Former San Franciscan Kelly left here for Paradise (Valley
Community College) in Arizona. This recording, by Noah
Guttell in Phoenix) is top notch. Great drum sounds, the
right tinge of reverb, plenty of snap when needed.

-Thurston Hunger