Zaccai Curtis “Sonoluminescence Vol. 1” on DownBeat Reviews!
Where to begin? Truly, there are so many layers at play on pianist-keyboardist Zaccai Curtis’ latest that singling out a starting point is an overwhelming task.
Whole lineages of history and style seem to be happening at once. Most obviously, the Afro-Latin grooves that Curtis so deftly explored on 2024’s Cubop Lives intertwine with ’70s vintage funk-rock fusion. No surprise there. Some of the directions it takes from that point are also obvious: The Mahavishnu Orchestra/Brecker Brothers pastiche that drummer Joe Dyson and guest guitarist Aurelien Budynek drive on the epic “Message” is almost too perfect. (It works, though, not least because of their convincing zeal.) Ah, but it’s buttressed by acid-jazz implications on one side (“A Patient Resolve”), trip-hop and lounge-jazz gestures on the other (“I Want To Feel the Way You Move”). Saxophonist Craig Handy peppers the opening “Joust” with Charlie Parker quotes, stamps “Mayci’s Dream” with ominous soul-jazz figures and even takes some fierce M-Base-like runs on “Last Call.” Talk about intensive.
