Jugendstil Purveys A New Chamber Jazz Sound

Originally posted on September 12, 2008

Chamber Jazz, generally small groups playing intimate improvised music, is a somewhat rarified form. One of the real pioneers in the field, the late Jimmy Giuffre, made some great recordings in the genre, from the mid-‘50s through mid-‘60s especially. In that tradition we have a new release called Jugendstil (ESP) with Chris Speed and Chris Cheek on reeds and Stephane Furic Leibovici on acoustic bass.

It is a real charmer, a kind of masterwork of quiet, thoughtful ruminations that leaves you impressed and wanting more. It is in the tradition of some of Giuffre’s best. Snatch a copy if you want to expose yourself to something soothing yet substantive.