[Inner Journeys] take off for the outer reaches that players have been reaching for since George Russell first blasted off.
Begun in earnest as an acoustic jazz trio in 2005, pianist Bob Ravenscroft, bassist Dwight Kilian and drummer Rob Moore's thirst to traverse destinations beyond worked its way into their rehearsals, performances, and then into weekly recording sessions in their studio outside of Phoenix. Phantasmagoria offers 21 moments, or vignettes. Sometimes a brief piano statement, or a fierce '60s free-jazz explosion, or, as in the opening "Commencement," shimmering synths suggesting a prog-rock introduction only to lead into a free jazz drum solo. From pristine solo piano pieces such as Icicles or Pure Light, to the darkened urban landscapes of Traffic Jam, Unrest and Mad Jazz Tea, or the ethereal synth explorations of Wandering, Inner Journeys achieves a deeply moving and atmospheric sound that travels through jazz and beyond.
Track Listing:
1. Commencement 1:42
2. Emergence 3:48
3. Melancholy 1:15
4. Traffic Jam 3:44
5. Icicles 3:45
6. Wandering 6:50
7. Ethereal 2:15
8. Chilly the Kid 2:20
9. Pretty Down 1:00
10. Turbulence 1:28
11. Vapors 1:44
12. Tranquility 4:11
13. Foreboding 4:12
14. Crying out 2:07
15. Searching 0:46
16. Mad Jazz Tea 3:11
17. Lost Steps 5:29
18. Love Remembered 1:42
19. Bass Peace 3:30
20. Unrest 2:45
21. Pure Light 3:47
All music composed by Inner Journeys
Performers:
Bob Ravenscroft - piano, synthesizer
Dwight Kilian - bass
Rob Moore - drums, analog synthesizers
Production Info:
Produced by Rob Moore, Bob Ravenscroft, Dwight Kilian
Recorded & mixed by Rob Moore at Ravenswave Studios - Carefree, AZ
1/5/19 - 1/15/19
Mastered by Justin Perkins at Mystery Room Mastering - Milwaukee, WI
Photos by Caleb Kilian, Larissa Johnson
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Phantasmagoria
Midwest Record (Chris Spector)
A little prog, a little seventh galaxy, a little church basement, Ravenscroft and his gang mixmaster a load of influences that have influenced them along the way, put it in their own mixmaster and take off for the outer reaches that players have been reaching for since George Russell first blasted off. Space heads rejoice--it's done right here. ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Bob Ravenscroft plays piano and synthesizer as he leads his team of bassist Dwight Kilian and drummer/synther Rob Moore through 21 songs that vary from 46 seconds to almost 7 minutes. Some of the pieces like "Lost Steps" and "Crying Out" are spacey atmospheric pieces, while acoustic tunes like "Traffic Jam" have a cohesion not unlike The Bad Plus, ...
