Wirtz; Jon: Tourist

I'm no great Jazz aficionado, but even I can tell when an album is offering something genuinely different, or ideas stretching away from the types of Jazz releases regularly being slipped into CD players. For many years Jon Wirtz has been quietly marking out his own niche, often a side-man to more "illustrious" company, such as Robbie Krieger (The Doors), Melissa Etheridge, Charlie Sexton and (ahem) Justin Timberlake. However under his own steam he has merely casually glanced at those collaborations and come up with an album that is undoubtedly Jazz, while also undoubtedly not. Instead Tourist gently and cleverly flits from style to style while still working under one cohesive framework that defines the whole piece. Originally conceived while dreaming, all of the songs on this reasonably short offering feel conjoined, even as they stubbornly refuse to fall out of the same mould.

"Slumber" offers an unusual opening, giving exactly the impression of gradual consciousness being gained when waking in a naturally, unforced way. The impression is similar to something Enya might conjure, making the complex percussion patterns and instrumental interplay on "Politico" all the more startling. This track also reveals one of the most endearing aspects of Tourist, which is that it makes for pleasingly simple listening, even when you can fully sense exactly how crafted and honed every section is. Making challenging music accessible, but a million miles from throwaway.

A mainly instrumental piece, Tourist does offer up a vocal moment, although my lack of connection with modern R&B makes the laid back rap (courtesy of Stephen Malloy Brackett of Flobots) of "Gratitude" something to be endured rather than enjoyed. However the lackadaisical Bruce Hornsby like "Camouflage For A Sunny Day" immediately atones, being simply and patiently captivating; a trick again played out expertly on the (again) Hornsby meets Enya like intro to "Awakening", which gently evolves into a beautiful trumpet refrain that whisks you from everyday life to a far more rewarding place.

In between, the expert band of drummer Alejandro Castano, bassist John Grigsby and various guests including guitarist Dan Schwindt (Motet and Kyle Hollingsworth Band), pedal steel guitarist John Macy and Gabriel Mervine on trumpet, lay down thick grooves over and under which Wirtz' piano, organ and synths weave a variety of styles to wonderful effect. "Despite Appearances (All Is Well)" kicks back and relaxes through subtle piano, "Country" adds a little more flair and lap steel befitting of its name, while the album's title track, birdsong and all, floats dreamily by, before "Watching The World Wake Up" offers the most overtly straight Jazz anywhere on the album. Leaving "In The Body" to land everything squarely on two feet as the journey through a night of sleep comes to a close and the senses fully, yet in a beautifully restrained manner, begin to completely take over again.

A captivating album which defies obvious pigeon holing through a freedom of spirit and mind, Tourist will satisfy anyone looking for a slice of eclectic, reserved Jazz that avoids obvious paths and easy choices.

Track Listing
1. Slumber
2. Politico
3. Gratitude
4. Camouflage for a Sunny Day
5. Despite Appearances (All Is Well)
6. Country
7. Tourist
8. Watching the World Wake Up
9. In the Body
10. Awakening

Added: August 23rd 2013
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Jon Wirtz on bandcamp
Hits: 2432
Language: english

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