Blanton, Tyler: Botanic

Tyler Blanton switched from drums to vibraphone at the age of eighteen and received a degree in jazz studies from Sonoma University in 2007. He then moved to New York City to pursue his quest for music and has played with a number of players including Eamus Blake, Richie Barshay and Alexi Cuadrado. This year Blanton released his debut CD entitled Botanic.

Blanton (vibraphone) is joined by Joel Frahm (tenor and soprano saxophones), Richie Barshay (drums), Aidan Carroll (bass), Dan Loomis (bass) and Jared Schonig (drums). The band plays modern jazz with the melodic focus on Blanton's vibraphone and lots of tasty saxophone playing. Being one of the main instruments, the vibraphone helps to take the place of guitar and Blanton's playing is both expressive and upbeat adding plenty of swinging grooves throughout the album. This is an optimistic record and never gets bogged down by brooding passages and depressing motifs.

Some of my favourites include the old time swinging sounds in "Good Ol' Joel" and the richly melodic title track featuring Frahm's vibrant tenor saxophone and the formidable rhythm section of Loomis and Schonig. The slower romantic grooves in "Foreshadowing" allows for softer playing and some great bass work from Loomis while dreamy vibraphone meanders languidly along before the pace picks up. Towards the end of the song Schonig's drumming is truly impressive. The album's softest piece is the aptly titled "Mellow Afternoon" where the words in the song title say it all and the playing is peaceful and dreamy.

Blanton has a produced a solid debut album of modern, accessible jazz that is well worth hearing for all fans who prefer subtle nuance over all-star showmanship. This is truly a group effort and Botanic is all the better because of it.

Track Listing:
1. Already Here (4:34)
2. Botanic (7:29)
3. Good Ol' Joel (4:24)
4. Foreshadowing (9:20)
5. Mellow Afternoon (7:35)
6. Little Two (6:55)
7. Hemming and Hawing (4:16)
8. Vestibule (6:45)

Added: December 23rd 2010
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1720
Language: english

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