Far Star

Guitarist Gilad Hekselman, one of the most eagerly collaborative artists on the jazz scene, did not conceive the music for *Far Star* with a solo album in mind. His hand was forced by the pandemic, yet in tackling this unprecedented challenge he furthered certain sonic elements he’d been working toward in full-band contexts. Call it a drive, perhaps, to make the guitar sound like more than one instrument. *Far Star* is all about that: The thick bass tones he achieves with effects on the bandstand are even more thoroughly integrated here. The chordal textures are haunting and rich, as if springing from some unknown source. Whether it’s the extreme turbulence of “Fast Moving Century” or the pastoral acoustic mood of “I Didn’t Know,” the focus always remains Hekselman’s boundless melodic gift. The guitar solos, moreover, are soulful and ripping, and the contributions from drummers Eric Harland, Ziv Ravitz, and Amir Bresler, as well as keyboardists Shai Maestro and Nomok, infuse the program with endless personality.