Robin Verheyen - Starbound (2009) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist:

[3:59] 01. On the House (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)
[4:32] 02. Boechout (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)
[5:43] 03. The Flight of the Eagle (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)
[3:53] 04. Starbound (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)
[11:02] 05. Lamenting (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)
[3:55] 06. Roscopaje (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)
[5:21] 07. Waves (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)
[4:06] 08. Long Island City (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)
[4:22] 09. Narcis (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)
[5:24] 10. Tree Line (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)
[2:44] 11. I Wish I Knew (feat. Bill Carrothers, Nicolas Thys, Dré Pallemaerts)


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ABOUT THE ALBUM
1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
Total length: 00:54:50
Main artist: Robin Verheyen
Composer: Various Composers
Label: Pirouet Records
Genre: Jazz
Hi-Res 24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo
2009 Pirouet Records




Credits
Bass – Nicolas Thys
Drums – Dré Pallemaerts
Piano – Bill Carrothers
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Robin Verheyen

Composing is by no means mandatory for jazz improvisers. Stan Getz and Chet Baker are two examples of jazz masters who weren't known for doing a lot of composing, and both of them recorded plenty of five-star albums that contained no original material at all. Nonetheless, the soloist/composer aesthetic is certainly a valuable part of jazz, and it is an aesthetic that works well for Robin Verheyen on Starbound. The Belgian soprano/tenor saxophonist, who recorded this album in Munich, Germany, in 2009, embraces only two non-original songs on Starbound: bassist Nicolas Thys' "Long Island City" and the Harry Warren standard "I Wish I Knew." All of the disc's nine other tracks are Verheyen originals, and he shows a need to express himself through both his composing and his saxophone playing. Verheyen's expression is of an acoustic post-bop nature, and some of his post-bop offerings are fast and angular ("On the House" and the abstract "Roscopaje," for example). But on "Narcis," "The Flight of the Eagle," "Tree Line," and the 11-minute "Lamenting," he slows things down and is quite pensive and reflective (as well as fairly lyrical). Drawing on post-bop influences like Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane (among others), Verheyen won't win any awards for being groundbreaking. But not every jazzman who comes along is obligated to be an innovator; realistically, most musicians (jazz or otherwise) won't be innovators -- which is fine as long as the artist strives for quality. And Verheyen (who forms a quartet with bassist Thys, pianist Bill Carrothers, and drummer Dré Pallemaerts) is obviously striving for quality on this 54-minute CD. Starbound isn't an exceptional album, although it's certainly a solid one -- and it's clear that Verheyen has potential as both a saxman and a composer.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo


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