A decent amount of hype has surrounded the release of Fly’s latest, Sky & Country. It's the first album the group’s done for Manfred Eicher's ECM label. The trio consists of Mark Turner on tenor and soprano sax (a player who is endlessly described as "underrated" by the critical community, which invites the question: if enough people say you're underrated, can that ever contribute to you actually being overrated?), backed by bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, two players who are very much in demand in the contemporary jazz scene and who comprise the muscular rhythm section that currently backs pianist Brad Mehldau (among many other big-name associations). The band would balk at my claiming that Grenadier and Ballard "back" Turner: the group is a self-described "leaderless" ensemble, and all three members share writing credits and take equal solo time.Sky & Country is a laid-back affair. The band rarely turns up the heat, preferring to take the slow, soulful route to their musical ends. It's the sound of a band that's content, enjoying the journey. The title track epitomizes the band's comfortable pace, with Turner playing a relaxed series of melodies over a straight, steady beat and Grenadier's slow but ultra-funky, double-stop adorned groove. Occasionally, Turner and Grenadier will converge on a brief snippet of melody, an effect that subtly tightens the pieces and strengthens the impression of a shared, leader-free vision. Still, at times it seems as though the rhythm section is just barely containing itself. Grenadier and Ballard are versatile, confident players, and their attempts to vary tempo are usually quashed by Turner's tendency to stick to a middling speed. This is odd, because there are mellow moments when Turner actually sounds a little lost, as though he's not quite sure where to take things without a roiling tempo to scoot him along. I've read speculation that Eicher "tamed" Turner, reining him in to keep things close to typical dreamy ECM-fare, but I can't say I've ever really heard Turner play in a more extroverted fashion. And really, this isn't a typical ECM album, either. It's a bit more mainstream; more rooted in post-bop and not as esoteric or drowned in reverb.
While there's always a time and place for a relaxed, whispery jazz session, with Sky & Country it can be tad frustrating. The musicians talented and well-respected players, and having heard them let loose in other contexts can make Sky & Country sound like an exercise in building tension. One waits for a funky groove to really open up, or for Turner to release a flurry over Ballard’s amped up beat, but the catharsis never really comes. Things do pick up with the last three tracks, and it is here that one feels as though they've finally got a taste of what the band is truly capable of. The 42 minutes it takes to get to those tracks is a little pricey, however, especially for those entering the proceedings with an expectation of fireworks. But I should be clear: Sky & Country contains some excellent jazz, and overall is a most worthwhile listen. It's just a little more subdued than perhaps was expected. And maybe that's a strength, in a way. Defying expectations is the way artists continue to challenge us. I’ll give it some more time. I was admittedly underwhelmed on first listen, but it wouldn’t be too surprising if Sky & Country had inched itself up to a respectable position on my list at the end of the year.
Track Listing:
1. Lady B
2. Sky & Country
3. Elena Berenjena
4. CJ
5. Dharma Days
6. Anandananda
7. Perla Morena
8. Transfigured
9. Super Sister
Personnel:
Mark Turner: tenor and soprano saxophones
Larry Grenadier: acoustic bass
Jeff Ballard: drums
Fly performing "State of the Union" (from a previous album) in Paris:
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