I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Unfoldings, by Ian Wardenski, and it's thought provoking yet familiar, it's abstract but not free form, it's outrageous yet well composed, it's heady yet understandable. This release has 5 "songs" which are really one total composition divided loosely into 5 movements. Movement I opens with Frank Russo on drums laying down a cool rolling rhythm and Amy Shook punching the bass, leading to Savino Palumbo's energetic piano lead. Tamara Tucker adds a vocal lead actually bringing to mind extracts from Zappa compositions. Composer, Ian Wardenski shows his chops on guitar which really are tight and Mercedes Beckman on alto sax is fluid and mindful. Very cool opener. Movement II opens with Shook on bass crafting a riff, then additively altered by Russo who really plays tight, rock formed riffs on drums. Palumbo on piano really stretches and forms the melody on this track handing off to Wardenski who bends and shapes the form beyond comprehension yet never losing concept. Joined by Beckman on sax and cranking up the bottom. Another solid entry. The composition is summarized in Movement V with the tension brought out by Palumbo is intensified by Tucker on vocal. With a strong bass/drum rhythm creating a driving path, Tucker and Beckman lead the way toward the climax. Russo on rimshots alters the trajectory and Shook on bass sets up the new direction. Wardenski takes the lead and with inciteful guitar phrasing starts the theme. Beckman on alto sax continues the theme driven by Russo and then paring down to just rimshots and Shook on bass, Palumbo plays a brilliant refrain ending in a powerful return of Beckman, Tucker et al. Very interesting.
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