Joel Harrison 5 - Spirit House (2015)

A broad-thinking musician with a prolific and extensive back catalog of releases - from duo and chamber to big band formats, from West African to North Indian collaborations - renowned Washington DC-born guitarist and composer Joel Harrison now turns his attention to a quintet recording featuring the intriguing front line of trumpet (Cuong Vu) and bassoon (Paul Hanson). Completed by NYC bassist Kermit Driscoll (bass) and the influential eminence of drummer Brian Blade, Harrison has created a genuine improvisers' record with a conceptual focus very much on the intuitive skills of these specific players. The richly-colored palette of Harrison's output is influenced by many guitar greats such as Bill Frisell, John Scofield and Jeff Beck, with solid roots in the American rock and country eras of Duane Allman and Danny Gatton. Add to this an unerring passion for cross-pollination of musical cultures and genres, plus a distinctively vocal guitar expressiveness, and it becomes clear why Harrison's evolving compositional sound worlds continue to engage.