Press Reviews
Produced by Lee Townsend the new CD, Big Ideas, by Jack West & Curvature has been receiving rave reviews:
"[Big Ideas is] a remarkable outing of cool curves, gently sloping musical parabolas, and
wondorous bends in compositional structure. With rhythm at the fore West offers
unusual sound colors, fluid slide work, and percussive attack" - Down Beat
"Stunning...one of the more interesting releases of the new year" - JazzWest
"Jack West is not only a fine musician, but he has an original approach and sounds like
no one else. To my mind, that is one of the most important qualities that a musician
can possess." - Lee Townsend
"Astounding rhythmic dexterity and unorthodox percussive technique...unusual
time signatures and odd rhythms...Jack West never has to worry about being
mistaken for another guitarist" - San Jose Mercury News
"Jack West negotiates surprising twists and turns and attains boggling musical
heights...remarkable." - SF Bay Guardian
"A whole new sub-genre of jazz" - National Public Radio, Perspectives in Jazz
"Hauntingly beautiful" - East Bay Express
"The interplay [between West and marimbist Joel Davel] is the kind of thing that
makes listeners go gaga!" - SF Weekly
"Curvature explores an original, rhythmically astute amalgam of blues, jazz, funk, and
folk. Although complex in terms of time signatures and improvisations, Curvature's
music is immediately accessible, owing to West's beguiling melodic sensibility and his
absorbing percussive attack." - SF Bay Guardian
"Exploring uncharted territory...uncannily familiar and yet completely fresh" - Andrew Gilbert, Jazz Critic
"Organically induced homespun themes...subtle intimacy along with pumping
beats and atmospheric propositions...enticing harmonic relationships...the
guitarist makes every note count. The artist's memorable compositions and
glimmering technique bespeaks a fertile imagination. Recommended!" - AllAboutJazz.com
"Obsessed with rhythm...[West] pushes his guitar techniques to the limit" - Metro
Santa Cruz
"A restlessly creative musician...dazzling combination of bluesy slide work, finger
picking, and unorthodox percussive techniques" - Jazz Perspectives, Reese Erlich
"Subtle, sensuous, accomplished, and mature. West wants and gets a group
sound/identity. The music is well-contructed and smartly played. If you like percussive
music that does not skimp on melody, check out Jack West & Curvature." - Cadence Magazine
"This tune ["Something About the Dream"] is taking me to another place..." - Chris
Cortez, KCSM, Jazz 91.1 FM
"Rooted in jazz and blues...it's also highly accessible...extremely melodic and
harmonically in..." - Oakland Tribune
"Curvature [is] a band with a distinctive sound that flows from it's unusual
instrumentation...[West has] managed to find musicians endowed with a sense of
syncopation as articulate as his own." - Contra Costa Times
"The full house at Yoshi's last Monday night [1/15/01] ventured out to hear West's idiosyncratic approach to composition and improvisation studious melodic and harmonic complexity, bouyed by infectious rhythmic verve." - Express
"In simple words, it [Big Ideas] is a great album!" - WartaJazz, Indonesia
Press for previous releases by Jack West & Curvature:
"Excellent production values and a virtuosic approach to original acoustic jazz ... Jack West & Curvature create a groove and a forum for improvisation rarely found in acoustic music...Winner of the 2000 Homegrown CD Award " - Acoustic Guitar Magazine
"Gorgeous, tightly structured compositions built on shifting rhythmic patterns ... extraordinary." - East Bay Express
"Brilliant original compositions...breathtaking." - Contra Costa Times
"That deceptively simple phrase 'progressive acoustic jazz' belies the rich complexity of composition, technique and improvisation that West and his cohorts in Curvature bring to the stage. West brings together elements of folk, blues and jazz with a heavy emphasis on melody and percussive guitar technique. The result is vibrant, organic sounding jazz that...sounds like something never heard before...nothing short of astounding." - Oakland Tribune
"A fertile blend of acoustic blues, progressive jazz, and an international folk music feel, Curvature's music bristles with instrumental virtuosity and a freewheeling improvisational spirit." - SF Bay Guardian
"Original, consistently recognizable sound...tight arrangements, musical use of odd-time signatures and polyrhythms, and engaging, intricate melodies..." - Electronic Musician
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