Capturing Spirits (JKQ live)
Capturing Spirits presents a quartet that knows its compositions well and still finds new room inside them. Jonathan Kreisberg plays with pianist Martin Bejerano, bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Colin Stranahan. The guitar lines are fluid and clear. Their interplay makes the music more than a demonstration of accomplished guitar playing.
The Lift starts energetically, with active piano patterns and busy drums around the melody. Kreisberg can play quickly without losing direction. The rhythm section keeps the music moving while leaving space for changes. It is a strong opening that makes the live recording's energy immediately clear.
Trust Fall has a melody that easily stays with you. Warm guitar and piano fit closely together, with a rhythm section that conveys quiet confidence. The musicians seem to know enough about one another to accommodate smaller departures.
Everything Needs Something gives the bass a moment of its own. A steady drum rhythm supports Clohesy's melodic solo while the others keep the space open. Relativity makes the exchange between piano and guitar more active. The sounds can become richer without leaving the melody behind.
Body and Soul brings the record to a restrained conclusion. A familiar composition allows for different harmonic turns while remaining recognisable. That suits Capturing Spirits' strongest quality: freedom develops within the tunes. The extended performances do require attention to their development and mutual responses. Listeners who give them that time receive a lively recording with clear melodies and a group that audibly chooses its direction together. The technique is impressive, but the connection between the players makes the difference.
