Ben Solomon – Echolocation (ENG review)

Giant Steps Art – Available
Jazz
Ben Solomon – Echolocation

Here we have another album from a particularly intriguing saxophonist and composer, one who might make us wonder whether he has been influenced by Maurice Ravel, as the piano parts seem at times to draw inspiration from the French composer, though they always conclude their phrases with a jazz inflection. It should be noted that Ben Solomon began learning the saxophone at the age of 10, having been exposed early on to the music of John Coltrane and Miles Davis. In 2012, he moved to New York to study music but left school to tour with Wallace Roney’s band. Playing in this ensemble from 2012 to 2017 had a formative impact on Ben’s playing. Roney became both a mentor and a positive influence on his musical growth. The concerts, travel, and recordings with the group were instrumental in Solomon’s maturation as both a person and a musician. As part of Roney’s band, Solomon also had the extraordinary opportunity to perform alongside master musicians like Buster Williams, Lenny White, Patrice Rushen, Gary Bartz, Ron Carter, and many others. Solomon’s most recent recording was on Wallace Roney’s album, *A Place in Time*.

Regarding his love for Coltrane, it can be heard in his saxophone lines, while the influence of Miles Davis resides in the dramatic tension of his works. Solomon has an extraordinary gift for setting the stage, but it is clear that all the artists he has played with have left a deep imprint on his approach to music and composition. As a guest artist with Brown University’s jazz ensembles in 2015, and on his tour with Géraud Portal across France in 2014, Solomon continued to hone his craft. In 2016, he played two nights with Chick Corea at New York’s Blue Note during Corea’s residency to mark his 75th birthday. If you’re a subscriber to the *New York Times*, I recommend this article on the event.

What a delight it is to follow the flow of tracks on this album—Solomon is unquestionably one of the greats. His musical writing and arrangements are testament to this, as is his saxophone playing, which leaves no doubt about his numerous artistic qualities. In 2017, Solomon returned to school to study music composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he completed his bachelor’s degree. While living in Boston, he played regularly at Wally’s Jazz Club and continued touring. He performed with Ben Wolfe at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in 2017, with Theo Hill (also at Dizzy’s) in 2018, and in 2019, he appeared with Wallace Roney’s band at the Wall to Wall John Coltrane Festival at Symphony Space in New York. In 2020, Solomon released *Chromatophores*, a collection of modulation studies for saxophone. By 2023, he had begun playing with Aaron Parks as a member of Parks’ quartet, most notably at the Village Vanguard in 2023. These experiences have clearly contributed to refining his style, for in Solomon there is a faint but unmistakable kinship with the great Wayne Shorter—not in form but in style—something remarkable that compels us to sit down and listen intently to the eight tracks on this album. It’s also worth noting that this generation of saxophonists shows a profound desire to serve as a bridge between the past and the future, maintaining a high standard while offering a fresh, forward-looking vision of their music. It is said that Ben Solomon, now established in New York, will be releasing a new book, blending music and literature. As for this album, the decision is clear: it enters directly into the category of our “Essentials.”

Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News

PARIS-MOVE, October 24th 2024

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To buy this album

Musicians:
Davis Whitfield – Piano
Kush Abadey – Drums
Rashaan Carter – Bass
Ben Solomon – Tenor Saxophone

Will’o’Wisp composed by Manuel De Falla
All other compositions by Ben Solomon
Produced by Jimmy Katz with support of Giant Step Arts
Recording Engineer – Jimmy Katz
Assistant Engineer – James Kogan
Cover Art and Photography – Jimmy Katz
Mixed by Jimmy Katz and Dave Darlington
Recorded Live at Ornithology Jazz Club in December 2023