Circuitous
Circuitous is an album by jazz pianist Pandelis Karayorgis, which was recorded in 2012 and released on Driff, an artist-run label co-founded by Karayorgis and Jorrit Dijkstra. He leads a new band with four Chicago-based musicians: saxophonists Dave Rempis and Keefe Jackson, bassist Nate McBride and drummer Frank Rosaly. Karayorgis explains that Tony Williams' seminal album Spring inspired the instrumentation for this project, a quintet with two tenors as the main horns.[1]
| Circuitous | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2013 | |||
| Recorded | January 16, 2012 | |||
| Studio | Chicago Public Media, Chicago | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 61:08 | |||
| Label | Driff | |||
| Pandelis Karayorgis chronology | ||||
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Reception
    
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating | 
| Down Beat | |
In a double review for Down Beat Josef Woodard notes that "the Chicago-based quintet steers perceptions toward comparisons to classic jazz quintet paradigm, different in form and function though it may be."[2]
The All About Jazz review by Glenn Astarita states "Never one to run short on creative sparks, the pianist is a sly arranger, and these works are asymmetrically synched within organization and improvisation. Moreover, several of these pieces are influenced by Thelonious Monk, primarily from an unconventional rhythmic standpoint amid odd-metered expressionism."[3]
The Point of Departure review by Troy Collins says "Karayorgis' Chicago quintet offers an intriguing alternative to his Boston-based ensemble, System Of 5. Similar, but distinct from its East Coast counterpart, the lineup documented on Circuitous explores territory consistent with Karayorgis' oeuvre, which demonstrates a masterful reinvention of post-bop vernacular, expertly balancing the accessibility of the mainstream with the vitalizing freedom of the avant-garde."[4]
Track listing
    
- All compositions by Pandelis Karayorgis
 
- "Undertow" – 6:04
 - "Nudge" – 6:30
 - "Swarm" – 9:37
 - "Circuitous" – 5:30
 - "Vortex" – 8:52
 - "Evenfall" – 4:36
 - "Blue Line" – 9:15
 - "Here in July" – 5:18
 - "Souvenir" – 5:26
 
Personnel
    
- Dave Rempis - tenor sax, alto sax, baritone sax
 - Keefe Jackson - tenor sax, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet
 - Pandelis Karayorgis - piano
 - Nate McBride - bass
 - Frank Rosaly - drums
 
References
    
- Circuitous at Pandelis Karayorgis
 - Woodard, Josef. Circuitous review. Down Beat February 14: page 91. Print.
 - Astarita, Glenn. Circuitous review at All About Jazz
 - Collins, Troy. Circuitous review at Point of Departure
 
