TEN by Tom Tallitsch

TEN
Released 11/1/19
Tom Tallitsch – Tenor & Soprano Saxophone
Mike Kennedy – Guitar
Jason Fraticelli – Bass
Dan Monaghan – Drums
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Discography:
TEN (11/2019 TT Productions)
TRIO 18 (2018 TT Productions)
WHEELHOUSE (2018 Posi-Tone)
GRATITUDE (2016 Posi-Tone)
ALL TOGETHER NOW (2015 Posi-Tone)
RIDE (2014 Posi-Tone)
HEADS OR TALES (2012 Posi-Tone)
PERSPECTIVE (2008 Origin/OA2)
MEDICINE MAN (2007 Origin/OA2)
DUALITY (2004 Self-Released)
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TEN: Press

Downbeat Magazine. April 2020 Chris Barton *** 1/2

All About Jazz. 12/12/19 David A. Orthmann. Ten is a recording that resides and functions well in a stylistic no man’s land. Tenor and soprano saxophonist Tom Tallitsch and his clever band display little interest in paying homage to easily recognizable jazz styles; yet, they don’t make a point of abandoning traditional practices either. Taking a stab at some basic descriptions of some of Tallitsch’s six compositions—medium tempo swing, skewed jazz-funk, a deliberately paced jazz waltz, Latin-tinged jazz, etc.—amounts to something of a fool’s errand. Suffice it to say they’re all appealing vehicles built to withstand the vicissitudes of the group’s momentum. It’s better to focus on the record’s strengths, which include a stunning mash-up of acoustic and electric textures, stability in the face of near constant change, and a totality that ultimately transcends individual contributions. Separately and in tandem, guitarist Mike Kennedy and drummer Dan Monaghan serve as catalysts by taking bold, unpredictable steps, threatening anarchy, and always knowing exactly when to come back into the fold before things get genuinely unhinged. Conversely, bassist Jason Fraticelli ably functions as the band’s ballast. Kennedy’s big, barbed, reverb-drenched tone is the most salient characteristic of the record’s overall sound. As a soloist and accompanist he’s cheeky, subtle, ominous, crafty and menacing. Throughout the record Kennedy toggles between providing companionable backing to Tallitsch’s solo lines and brusquely invading the saxophonist’s personal space. Often moving around the drum set with long, complicated, multi-stroke patterns or insistent single strokes and stomping fills, Monaghan possesses a remarkable ability to play a lot without clogging up the music. In the midst of Kennedy’s “Ya Might Feel A Little Pressure” solo, he mimics, extends, and augments the guitarist’s phrases. In contrast to Kennedy’s brassy, mercurial leaps and swift changes in emphasis, Tallitsch’s improvisations possess a steady, centered character that largely remains unprovoked by all of the activity going on around him. His forte is patiently developing ideas that are shorn of excess and contain an appealing emotional quality. Tallitsch’s “Orange, Yellow, and Red” solo flourishes without an accompanying increase in velocity. Throughout “Ya Might Feel A Little Pressure” his blithe dance through the tune’s structure continues even as Kennedy’s chords begin to make demands. By functioning in ways that don’t readily conform to any familiar script or flaunt an allegiance to past or current fashions, Ten succeeds as an excellent example of forward-thinking jazz. Highly recommended. Track Listing: Traveler; Pine; Lemmings; Orange Yellow And Red; Ya Might Feel A Little Pressure; North Shore. Personnel: Tom Tallitsch: tenor & soprano saxophones; Mike Kennedy: guitar; Jason Fraticelli: bass; Dan Monaghan: drums. Title: Ten | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Tom Tallitsch Productions



Step Tempest Blog. 12/11/19. Richard B. Kamins. TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY ARTICLE! In the Autumn of 2009, The Hartford Courant, the newspaper where I had been free-lancing for 13 years, moved in to the next phase of an endless time of layoffs. My blog was closed down and, like many contemporary writers, critics, and reviewers, searched for a new outlet where I could write about the music and artists that caught my attention. Step Tempest was born on December 14, 2009, and has been closely following the contemporary music scene which, despite the economic hardships that many musicians deal with on a daily basis, continues to respond and predict the many moods of our often-crazy world. The posts have moved away (mostly) from posting live concerts close to where I live in Connecticut – there is a lively creative music scene with the continued successes of Firehouse 12 in New Haven (both as a recording studio and performance venue) plus the development of The Side Door in Old Lyme and The State House, also in New Haven. Much changed for me in my seventh decade. I am now a grandfather (twice!), I have been adjunct faculty at Quinnipiac University since 2010. Our daughters have grown up and are now active members of their respective communities. Like many people, I have had my share of physical issues but most have disappeared. I remain excited by the music I hear on a daily basis and am buoyed by the many friends I have made in the past decade. Thank you for reading!


Saxophonist-educator-radio show host Tom Tallitsch, both in Illinois and raised in Ohio, has been on the contemporary for two decades. Currently living in Princeton, New Jersey, he maintains a busy schedule of private teaching as well as teaching piano to young people on the autism spectrum at the Princeton Child Development Institute. His four CDs on Posi-Tone (2014, 14, 16, and 18) were, mostly, quintet affairs with excellent rhythm sections and songs that emphasized Tallitsch’s melodic side. He can “blow” with the best but has a bluesy, soulful, tone, especially on ballads, that stands out. His new album, “Ten“, is his second release in 12 months to appear on his newly-revived personal label. It’s a quartet setting with guitarist Mike Kennedy, bassist Jason Fraticelli, and drummer Dan Monaghan, musicians who are all based in the Philadelphia, PA, area and all very busy. All six pieces are composed by Tallitsch and each one is worth exploring. The album opens with “Traveler“, which prominently features Kennedy’s guitar and the leader on soprano sax. There’s an open quality to the rhythm section but everyone digs in and the music becomes more intense as it scuttles forward. Monaghan, in particular, really pushes the soloists but pay attention to the guitar underneath the sax solo responding to the energy his partners put out. The rhythm section plus Kennedy leads the listener into the handsome ballad “Orange, Yellow, and Red” – the mood is intensely bluesy and Tallitsch’s tenor sax has a plaintive sound as he wends his way through the melody. His solo pushes the band to push back yet the piece never boils over. Kennedy solos next, a blend of Bill Frisell-style “country” licks and blues riffs; never imitative but truly in line with the mood of the piece. Fraticelli’s short, powerful, solo precedes the move back to the theme for a final chorus. What stands out through this program, whether the music is burning (“Ya Might Feel a Little Pressure“) or soaring over a steady persistent beat (“North Shore“) or pushing hard with rock overtones (“Lemmings“), is the urgency and interactions of the musicians. When Tom Tallitsch is soloing, the band is not only supporting him but also pushing him forward while creating intriguing backgrounds. The use of guitar instead of piano in this band frees the composer-arranger to create compositions that give the quartet a broad audioscape to create the colors and moods that permeate the music: also, the music often escapes any definable genre. Let the sounds of “Ten” flow over and through you – satisfaction guaranteed!! For more information about the saxophonist plus links to “The Modern Jazz Radio Show” (which originates on WWFM-Jazz on 2 from Trenton, New Jersey), go to www.tomtallitsch.com.


Something Else Reviews. 11/27/19 S. Victor Aaron – It’s not hard to figure out the story behind the title for Tom Tallitsch’s tenth album but it’s also not hard to figure from the first listen that Tallitsch has big chops as both a composer and a saxophonist. He always had. For his 2019 presentation, Tallitsch leaves behind classic Blue Note trappings that brought forth a great batch of records for Posi-Tone to make the self-released Ten with a somewhat different approach. This time, the backing band is changed up completely with acoustic bassist Jason Fraticelli, drummer Dan Monaghan and guitarist Mike Kennedy. Kennedy more than anyone is the main protagonist for Tallitsch’s altered sound print, with a reverb-drenched tone that firmly sets a foot a piece in rock and jazz. The Fraticelli/Monaghan rhythm unit likewise displasy almost an ambivalence about whether to rock or bop and yet the band thrives on being in that no-man’s land. This new presentation makes itself apparent from the start: “Traveler” utilizes the jagged guitar of Kennedy (who leaves behind a simmering solo mid-solo), and even Fraticelli’s acoustic bass aside accurately reads the slightly dark, laid-back demeanor of the song. A walking bass tethers “Pine”, but that barely contains Monaghan as he sets off minor explosions while Tallitsch expresses himself on tenor with poised passion. “Lemmings” is a soul-jazz piece at heart, given a funky treatment that’s underpinned by Fraticelli’s syncopated bass line; it’s a great springboard for an extended, highlight-filled sax run. “Orange, Yellow, And Red” is a downshift into a slow, blues-y character (even though it’s not a blues). “Ya Might Feel A Little Pressure” is loosely played, paced by Monaghan’s cascade of cymbals as Tallitsch and Kennedy stretch out. Tallitsch goes for the soprano sax for concluding tune “North Shore,” but it’s Fraticelli who gets extended time in the sun and acquits himself well. So while Ten might sometimes posit itself closer to the rock camp than to jazz, it retains all the improvisation and musicianship associated with the latter. As always, Tallitsch’s strong composing pen and advanced saxophone expression assures that whatever mission he attempts lands on its feet.

Midwest Record 11/4/19 – “TOM TALLITSCH/Ten: He might be a tenor sax man but he plays like an elevenor sax man. Blowing hard and wide open on this new showcase, you can’t help but to hear influences popping in an out of the tracks as the past and future are fused in the now in a smoking, progressive way sure to jolt moldy figs out of compliancy as they hustle to keep up. Solid stuff from a cat that never disappoints.”

Saxophonist * Composer * The Modern Jazz Radio Show * NJ

"One of the more underrated practitioners of the hard-bop form in the 21st century, Tom Tallitsch brings considerable aptitude toward his composing and saxophone playing to make consistently robust records. And all that Tallitsch’s upcoming eleventh release Message does is to keep that streak going." - Something Else Reviews

tomtallitsch.com
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