Kevin Kastning & Phil Grenadier - 2024 - In Visible Ascent

(46:18; Greydisc)

For his next album,  Kevin restricted himself to just playing 36-string Double Contraguitar and this time was joined by trumpeter Phil Grenadier. This is the first time he has worked with Phil, a well-known band leader and collaborator who is also on faculty at Berklee College of Music. Most of Kevin’s albums comprise a series of pieces, yet this album contains just two, one which is more than 30 minutes in length and one which is more than fifteen. Also, the trumpet is a powerful instrument, and one which will generally take the lead when being played with an acoustic guitar and that is exactly what we have here so Phil can often be found providing the melody while Kevin concentrates on accompaniment and nuances.

This album sounds far less improvised and much more like modern classical music, and Kevin even describes it as “symphonic compositional scale” and that it marks a new direction for both musicians. The reverb on both instruments means that space is a very important third instrument, with both musicians very much using it to their advantage as they work together to uncover the delights the journey has in store for them, which is impossible to determine when they take the first step. You can “see” the musicians listening intently to each other as they decide where to come in, what they are going to add, and what direction they need to follow. They can both be delicate and restrained, or breaking the speed limit as they run through cadences, always in tandem, always confident in the ability of the other to keep up and add their own touch of magic. Yet another delight from Kevin, whose work is always enthralling and exciting.

Kev Rowland, October 2024

Links:
http://www.kevinkastning.com/
https://philgrenadierjazz.com/
http://www.greydisc.com/