Blue Earth Sound, a shifting collective which revolves around composer/multi-instrumentalist James Weir, produced one of last year’s surprise album’s ‘Cicero Nights’. It gave Cinematic Jazz a fresh complexion, ruffling the penchant for smooth control and relaxed vibes with a sharper live energy. Now Weir delivers further explorations along this route with the brief but bright ‘St. Louis Sessions’.
The title hints at the context but not the whole story. De-camping to St. Louis from his Chicago base with the purpose of seeing his old buddy Austin LeMoine’s new living room studio, Weir also took along a bunch of recent demos. Inevitably a session convened, pulling in local trumpeter Josiah Burton plus horn player Jawwaad Spann, and the foundations of this fine EP were set.
Opening tune Chartreuse, written by the quartet in situ, crackles with the room’s immediacy. Weir’s guitar is out front, defining the tune with Adrian Utley-like chime’s which draw a Post Rock meets Trip Hop connection. It’s an airy, vibrant welcome, gliding along to LeMoine’s easy-going beats and a sauntering bass line. The horns add the final colours. Burton’s bluesy moan mingles with Spann’s succulent sax while added violin and Eamonn Prizy’s flute flutter into view before a snappy, unexpected shut down.
Two tracks of Surprise Chef-esque deceptive momentum follow. Japanese Green lays down a chunky, boom-bap rhythm mixed with a subtle r n’ b sway. Alex Aguayo’s restrained percussion is essential here. There’s also on-time Wurlitzer stabs, a solid bass punch and a trumpet/sax conversation which twists between a smooch and something wilder. Weir’s closing piano melodies then give the whole track some lush fulfilment. On a similar funky wavelength comes Fresh Air, which purrs gently until Weir’s guitar sensitively sprinkles the horn lines with inventive note showers.
As with ‘Cicero Nights’, this flying visit to the Blue Earth Sound project always makes the fine details count. This EP though, captures Weir and his collaborators delving deeper into a “less is more” dimension without losing any impact. The final track, another St Louis quartet composition, highlights their success. The atmospheric Missouri Midnight is an emotion stirrer, the piano’s simple gospel-call prompting a deeply soulful trumpet/ sax finale that enriches.
This Blue Earth Sound mini-adventure thrives on its own but the EP is a reminder that another complete album can’t come soon enough.
Get your copy of ‘The St. Louis Sessions EP‘ by Blue Earth Sound from your local record store of direct from DeepMatter Records HERE
