The jazz album you must buy

Phronesis’ new album Green Delay arrived in the mail yesterday. I had not thought it possible, but it is actually better than their brilliant first album, Organic Warfare. This group produces work that is simultaneously original and melodic, and they swing like all hell. Even more remarkable is the precision of their playing—they are so tightly connected at times that the bass and the piano sound like the same instrument. This is especially remarkable given the speed and complexity of their music.

Each performer in this group is absolutely first rate—and yet they work together in perfect sync. Ivo Neame’s piano playing is rapid, exact, but restrained—held back just enough to keep momentum going. His interactions with Jasper Hoiby’s bass are perfectly balanced. And the drumming! Anton Eger is just something else: his drumming is a unique blend of rock and jazz that gives the music an amazing energy. The music is like whitewater rafting—sometimes bouncing you all over the place, other times smoothing out for a relaxing break, only to plunge you in again. It is rich, clever, absolutely distinctive. But it is never in the least bit harsh or grating as much modern jazz is. This is the kind of music you can listen to while doing other things—but you’ll find yourself stopping to listen more carefully.

Organic Warfare was a great album full of particular moments: Neame Magnus Hjorth’s piano would at times hit just the perfect crest, but then dive a bit too quickly into the next piece. And there were moments that, honestly, weren’t exactly right: the cymbals sometimes hurt your ears, and the pieces sometimes stop short just when they hit their stride. But Green Delay has none of these blemishes. It is brilliant, from start to finish. I don’t know what their secret is, but the jazz world will have to notice these guys in a big way, and soon.

Unfortunately, the album is not yet available through Amazon or iTunes; you’ll have to buy it for now through the group’s MySpace page, where you can listen to two of the tracks online, or from Loop Records’ website. Do so!