Empathy
For his debut album on Maine's Invisible Music label, guitarist Tony Gaboury sticks with a play list of originals, four of his own and four by his drummer, Steve Grover. Gaboury's compositions were originally written as settings for the work of Massachusetts-born poet Robert Creeley. Common to all tracks is a sense of understatement and restraint, resulting in a session of pensive playing. Tracks featuring saxophonist Rob Stillman, such as the title tune, still have a haunted quality, but the music seems to be a little more alive -- although not lively. There is little up-tempo playing on this CD. Although he worked for his master's degree by transcribing the Wes Montgomery Riverside label recordings, Gaboury's playing mixes the rock-influenced strumming of John Scofield with the bright harmonics of Jim Hall. He favors a pure, clean sound rather than a rich, heavy chordal timbre. Although by two different composers, each track is like a chapter of a book, the next installment building on what preceded it. Gaboury's family is part of the story. Grover dedicated "Emma" to the guitarist's daughter and "Art Advocate" recognizes Gaboury's painter wife Lori. Empathy's last track, "The Seventh String," is the denouement, summing up the album with introspective, intelligent, and improvisationally intimate interplay between Gaboury and pianist Aaron Goldberg. This mood is fortified by Grover's drumming and Chris Van Voorst Van Beest's bass, as they lay down subtle but strong beats for Gaboury and Goldberg as this volume of interesting, well-played music comes to an end. Gaboury brings likeminded musicians into the studio with him. Goldberg is the pianist for Joshua Redman's Warner Bros. recording group. Grover has his own set of albums for Invisible Music. As good as any of the current crop of younger jazz drummers, and better than most, Grover understands the role of his instrument in a small-group setting. His discriminating and tasteful playing always enhances and never overwhelms. Van Voorst Van Beest and Stillman are part of Maine's growing number of creative jazz musicians carrying the music to the next level. This album is a fine session of engrossing music and is recommended.