Zygomatik

Referring to either the muscle of facial expression or the paired cheekbone, this Zygomatik seeks to express a full range of emotional nuance. Verbist, the creative force behind this recording, displays his compositional abilities as well as his strength as a performer. His virtuosic technique on ?The Pale Blue Dot? (which also alludes to the swinging feel of John Coltrane?s ?Equinox,?) is contrasted by the simple, yet heavy, groove of tunes like ?PMS Alert!? (a double entendre which also characterizes his humor). Verbist elicits Duke Ellington?s ?Caravan? in his bolero-esque composition titled ?Rush ed-Duny�,? while setting Eastern sounding, harmonic-minor stylings into a modern timbral conception. Despite a few straight-ahead moments and some rock elements, there is an ethereal underpinning throughout the album that stems from the cascading harmonies provided by the Fender Rhodes. The watery sound can seem static at times, but Weijters?s sustained and effect laden disposition gives the compositions an element of variety. The cool, dreamy feel is also contrasted by Renzi?s burning solos. Renzi shows his ability with outside sounds on ?Pulse,? while maintaining some bluesy elements on ?Cut the Crab.?