Daylight Ghosts
For his third ECM outing as a leader, pianist Craig Taborn expands to quartet with the wily, cool-toned tenor sax and clarinet of Chris Speed, the solid and flexible bass of Chris Lightcap, and the anarchic but dynamically sensitive drumming of Dave King. The pieces are original, save for Roscoe Mitchell’s loosely phrased and lyrical “Jamaican Farewell.” The music is harmonically abstract yet enveloping and beautiful, often anchored to an irresistible rhythmic drive, particularly on “New Glory” and “Ancient.” Subtle electronic textures arise as well.
Jazz piano shredder Craig Taborn is a compositional force on his new quartet album. From the LP’s grand design to its smallest quirks, Taborn and his bandmates make the music gently rage.
Craig Taborn's third ECM album, 2017's Daylight Ghosts, is a sophisticated quartet date that finds the pianist deftly balancing his exploratory, classical-influenced jazz with subtle electronics, avant-garde flourishes, and a robust group aesthetic.