Atmospheric and serpentine, the two-disc
As We Speak finds electric fretless bassist
Mark Egan leading his trio through a series of enigmatic and propulsive original songs. An acolyte of the late great bassist
Jaco Pastorious,
Egan has a lithe touch on his instrument, and tracks such as the leadoff "Spirals" evince a hypnotic, fusion-esque aesthetic. Joining
Egan here are the equally superb jazz giants guitarist
John Abercrombie and drummer
Danny Gottlieb. These are three technical dynamos as well as artists sensitive to creative group interplay. Cuts such as "Dream Sequence" showcase this as
Abercrombie and
Egan both lay down harmonic lines against each other allowing
Gottlieb to fill in the background with organic cymbal flourishes and flickering drum patterns. Cinematic and expansive,
As We Speak has a real spark of intimacy and is a truly engaging work. ~ Matt Collar