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Audiversity Review
Not to be mistaken with the grungy Icelandic indie-rock group by the same name, Leaves is a collaboration of four Chicago jazz/improv musicians weaving their individual sounds into a warm, autumnal blend of modern creative jazz, post-bop and the ambitious post-rock Chicago has become known for in the past decade. The focus of this album, recorded live during two spring 06 performances at Chicago's The Ice Factory, is the interplay of Tyler Beach's amazingly toned electric guitar and Charles Gorcyski's balmy saxophone. Beach echoes the likes of Bill Frisell, a jazz guitarist renown for the individual style he brought to a typically redundant instrument as far as tone goes, as well as a more restrained Jeff Parker of Tortoise fame, while Gorcyski's alto seems to descend from the school of Lee Konitz. They continually tease and dare each other in many directions over the slyly subdued and melodic drumming of Charles Rumback, the grounding bass of Dan Thatcher and garnishing electronic textures. Live at The Ice Factory rarely finds the talented musicians in a particular groove, but instead, themes and moods continually ebb and flow from melodic bop to restrained skronks with blaring technical prowess. They craft a sound that could as easily blend into the background of an art gallery, soundtrack an early, grey Sunday morning or provide welcomed ambiance to any knowing establishment.
by Michael Ardaiolo