Album Review: "Primate TV" (2021) by Liad Mor Trio
Liad Mor is a producer and jazz artist from Israel. For this particular album Liad is playing bass for a trio consisting of drums, bass and sax. The album's cover, which you can see at the top, features the musicians: Liad Mor on Doublebass, Oded Son Issac on Tenor Saxophone and Regev Baruch on Drums. Having written and performed this album during the pandemic Era, Liad states that this album resembles the journey they went through last year.
You Will See It:
The first track of Primate TV, "You Will See It" opens with an interesting head. The piece can be considered a 'ballad' as it is slow in tempo and sorrowful in tone. Yet there is something playful about the way the musicians play this piece that makes the song sound unique. The solid performances indicate that the musicians are at top of their craft. The drummer doesn't hold back any fills so the song flows naturally. We get a glimpse of each musicians playing characteristic through skillfully crafted solos
Your Blues:
The second track of the album puts strong emphasis on the saxophone. The main melody is produced by segments of "lick-ish" melody segments. The drums accompany the sax throughout the piece. The way those two instruments are integrated together produce a good contrast between the "lick-ish", short-lasting melody segments of the sax and the constant rythm produced by the drums. The drums keeps the listener "awake" while the sax produces the melody. One problem with this track is that it might be difficult to find a place to listen to this track. It's too loud to use it as an ambient music and it is lacking a continous melody, which makes it unsuitable to just put your headphones on and listen to it. It can, however be an excellent part of the soundtrack of a movie or a short film, and will show its potential if integrated with the right scene.
Love-Fi:
An amazing, fun piece from the trio, LOVE-FI starts with a catchy, fun melody. Here, not only the melody reminds the listener of a similarly entertaining and lively track, the legendary When I’m Sixty-Four from Beatles, also the whole atmosphere created by the three carries this positive, happy mood along with the piece. Indeed, when the introduction is over and the main composition had itself apparent to the listener, the equally fun and creative solo sections start. This part heads off with Isaac’s lead on saxophone. While the drum anchors the rhythm along this part, the double bass also joins in at times to enrich the sound. Around the 3-minute mark, the solo section of the double bass part enters in, which is equally creative and also full of sheer skill. At the 5-minute mark, the drum solo heads off to take his chance on this little game-like, funny, and entertaining atmosphere created by the three. The playful journey to the old times, reminding us of the old loves and passions and many other things, ends with the retrieved, main melody.
Rain in Jaffa:
The fourth track of the album is a perfect ambient music! You would expect it to be playing at a starbucks or a luxurious restaurant. The saxophone produces long segments of melody that are not interconnected while the drums produce a soft rythm that doesn't cause the track to be too loud. The base, if you use a sound system good enough, really enhances the music and the solo around the mid-point mark is just spectacular. The saxophone, with the base and drums accompanying it, really enlightens the mood in any venue that you listen to it. The potential of this track can really be seen when used in such cases and will definitely benefit the atmosphere of the venue it's being played at.
End of It:
The last track of the album starts with a percussion-heavy segment. That really sets up the jazzy tone that will be coming at the rest of it. Unlike all other pieces in the album, this track combines all instruments (Sax, percussion and bass) and therefore create a music with much richer profile. There is a lot to hear in every bit of it. The bass and the sax plays their own distinct, yet harmonically well combined, melodies while the percussion accompanies them with a nice, energetic rythm. It's a track that would set your mood up whenever you listen to it. Very nice music that calls for very nice emotions... What more would you need to listen to this album? Stay in the loop for more album reviews from a diverse range of musicians!