Sam Bevan - Emergence (2018)

"Emergence" is a very personal album that capitulates Sam Bevan's 16 year residency in the San Francisco Bay Area. The music draws from jazz, gospel, Afro-Cuban and West African traditions and is presented in a chord less mini-big band format (in the style Gerry Mulligan's and Jaco Pastorius' big bands). There are elements of short melodic structures and free playing in the vein of Ornette Coleman, as well as, singable melodic hooks that are often missing from modern jazz contexts today. The music is warm, fresh and hopeful, but never predictable.