{"id":12066,"date":"2021-05-24T18:30:42","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T23:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ckuw.ca\/stylus\/?p=12066"},"modified":"2026-05-06T15:08:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T20:08:42","slug":"album-review-jesse-ryan-bridges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ckuw.ca\/stylus\/2021\/05\/24\/album-review-jesse-ryan-bridges\/","title":{"rendered":"Album Review :: Jesse Ryan :: Bridges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

by Phil Enns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As its title suggests, the debut album by Toronto-based saxophonist Jesse Ryan sees the gifted young instrumentalist building musical bridges between traditional jazz idioms and the Afro-Caribbean rhythms of his native Trinidad & Tobago. The improvisational nature of jazz always appealed to Ryan, as it provided, in his own words, \u201ca space for collaboration, cultural exchange, and [a place] where old and new worlds meet.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

It is in that spirit that the album\u2019s opening track, \u201cBig Ole Shoes\u201d \u2013 in which traditional Trinbagonian Tambrin drums introduce, then undergird, a bright, swiftly-moving modern jazz melody and chord structure \u2013 demonstrates well the synergy between these no-longer-estranged musical traditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside Ryan are a whole host of talented musicians, including Marc Rogers on both upright and electric bass, and Ewen Farncombe on piano and, notably, Fender Rhodes. While some of these names may be new, Winnipeggers familiar with the local jazz scene may recognize at least one of the artists contributing to the album: former University of Manitoba Jazz Studies vocal major Joanna Majoko lends her voice to two of its tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of those two, \u201cZambian Offertory,\u201d is a gentle zephyr of a tune seemingly representing \u2013 in this reviewer\u2019s mind, at least \u2013 a hopeful hymn of thanks sung at the dawning of a new day. \u201cRight To Be Wrong,\u201d another standout track, lays down a bed of Trinbagonian percussion, over which Ryan and his sidemen display their mastery of the form with sultry solo spots. In many ways, the Tambrin drums are the star of the show here and, of their three appearances, the album\u2019s closing track, \u201cS.O.T.S. (Sons of the Soil),\u201d is one of its more danceable offerings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, Bridges<\/em> is, even in its quieter moments, a very lively album, and there are far more surprises in store for the serious listener than can be recounted here. With all tracks composed by Jesse Ryan, and co-produced by respected Toronto percussionist Larnell Lewis, Bridges<\/em> is a fine debut effort in what, one hopes, will be a long and illustrious career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n