Torben Waldorff Releases New Project, American Rock Beauty

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After making a splash in jazz improvisation with his previous ArtistShare album Afterburn, guitarist Torben Waldorff returns with his new creation, American Rock Beauty exclusively available at waldorff.com. Once again, Waldorff is accompanied by saxophonist Donny McCaslin, bassist Matt Clohesy, and drummer Jon Wikan along with the newest member of Waldorff’s ensemble, pianist Jon Cowherd. With all music composed by Torben Waldorff, American Rock Beauty displays a spontaneity in the chord dynamics that is original sounding and simpatico by nature. The quintet straddles the line between jamband vivaciousness and avant confections producing an eclectic modern jazz versing that fuses multiple thought patterns and demonstrates the group’s versatility to link to each other‘s cuts.

Moving from the sober musings of “Shining Through” to the liberal doodles of “Waves” and “Late”, the quintet experiments with various time signatures and melodic patterns which encourage improvised ramblings and dimpling along the chord progressions. The quintet works with a wide palette dabbling with country and gospel shadings in addition to sprigs of jazz rock, ambient and Brazilian-textured lilts. American Rock Beauty is an introspective piece of work as the musicians look inward for the inspiration to create their improvisations, and then tactfully layer, attach, and intermingle their cuts to form a type of art installation made for the ears.

Experimenting with positive and negative chord expressions, the quintet integrates moments of struggling and agreement knitted sporadically throughout the album. The compositions speak of the emotions locked in the human spirit, and burst through inhibitions that hold thoughts at bay. There are periods of solace counterbalanced by slices of confusion making American Rock Beauty a depiction of human spasms and extemporaneous surges.