By Chris Baber, Jazz Views
You might, like me, have first come across Zac Brock in his time with Snarky Puppy, especially on their ‘Culcha Vulcha’ album. On this new album with his trio partners, Brock’s violin has, at times, the feel of a fiddle in folk tunes; rich with harmonics and layered tones that create a mood that is both plaintive and lyrical. At other times, he plays with the richness of the early pioneers of jazz violin. And between these twin poles, his playing has the richness and complexity of modern classical music (Bartok, in particular, sprang to mind). This mix of violin styles, of folk, classical and jazz, permeate the music on this set, but do so in a way that leads you to conclude that Brock has a sound of his own. Full review here.