Bassist
Matt Penman makes his debut as a leader with this vivid, reflective quintet session, featuring
Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar,
Aaron Goldberg on piano and Rhodes,
Chris Cheek on tenor and soprano saxes, and
Jeff Ballard on drums. Mood-wise,
The Unquiet isn't unlike
Chris Cheek's beautiful album
Vine, which features the same instrumentation and even three of the same players --
Rosenwinkel,
Cheek, and
Penman himself. A modest leader,
Penman plays a supportive rhythm section role on these eight fine originals, locking in with
Ballard and letting the esteemed soloists do their thing.
Cheek and
Rosenwinkel state most of the melodies in unison, their tones (respectively dry and echo-drenched) providing rich timbral contrast.
Goldberg shines on piano, particularly on the fiercely swinging "Up and Over" and "Sense of Stealth"; he can make the Rhodes sound as gentle as a celeste, particularly under
Penman's solo (the only one of the set) on "Treehugger."
Penman seems to gravitate toward triple meters; his crafty writing is exemplified by the enigmatic, block-chord intro to the waltz "Keepsake," or the soaring rubato harmonies of "In Piece," which eventually glide into a gentle 6/8, then quietly drift off. ~ David R. Adler