Wolfgang Muthspiel,
Where The River Goes Review
Wolfgang Muthspiel is a guitarist and composer living in Vienna who is considered to be one of the most forward-thinking guitarists of his generation. Developing a love for music at an early age, leading him to study with Mick Goodrick at the New England Conservatory and later at Berklee College of Music in Boston and then touring with the Gary Burton quintet for two years. For his third album as a leader with ECM Records titled, Where The River Goes, Muthspiel continues to evolve his fast playing style and the genre. The personnel on the date is noteworthy: Brad Mehldau on piano, Eric Harland on drums, Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet, and Larry Grenadier on bass. Muthspiel composed all but two of the eight tunes on the date. The music is largely atmospheric and grows organically from the band’s listening ability and interaction skills. As a result, each player has room to delve into their own expression within Muthspiel’s musical context. This is jazz that is deep in both its history, listening and performance. For these reasons, Where The River Goes is not to be missed. That’s the short of it!
Positives:
The personnel on this date is exemplary and they communicate at a level you would expect from such a line-up. Muthspiel spends time on both the electric and nylon-strung guitar. Nice variety of material, from group improvisations to a straight-ahead swing selections composed by Mehldau.
Bottom Line:
Wolfgang Muthspiel brings the sounds of European jazz influences together with the jazz tradition and sound of today’s jazz in way that is unique, musical and highly satisfying. The material allows each player to shine and gives the ensemble a solid platform on which they build musical space. Each track evolves. The proceedings are certainly focused, while pursuing the moments potential to allow the special chemistry that only improvised music can give. Seems like Muthspiel and cast are tuned in on this date.