I must admit that I was not a massive fan of David’s 2024 album, ‘Tree of Life’, so I was intrigued to hear what the follow-up was like. This time around it is a totally different band, with guitarist Bailis now joined by Caroline Davis (alto saxophone), Andrew Links (piano, keyboards), Jordan Scannella (bass), and Kenneth Salters (drums) and one immediately notices the difference having a “real” bassist makes to the overall arrangements, as last time it was played on synth and just did not have the power or emotional impact.
As with the last album, although It has been released under the name of Bailis, it feels much more like a group as he is often happy to sit in. the background and let others take the melodic lead, especially the sax, and it is not unusual for him to mimic that instrument closely, so much so that it sounds as if it is a combination of sound as opposed to two very different instruments. Apparently, Bailis is a competitive marathon runner, triathlete and coach, and he feel that playing music and running have several aspects in common, saying, “The title of the album is a nod to my musical ideas and my love of running, representing discipline, freedom, daily practice, dedication, exploration, seeking, and purpose.” As with his last release, this is jazz to relax into, but it rarely excites, and yet again I find myself feeling this is like a warm comfortable blanket as opposed to something which intrigues me enough to want to listen to it repeatedly. There is no doubt it is a step up from the last one, but for me there is still a way to go before it becomes essential.
Rating: 7/10
Links:
https://www.davidbailis.com/