(Post-Bop, Contemporary Jazz, Violin) Zach Brock (with Aaron Goldberg, Matt Penman, Eric Harland) - Almost Never Was - 2012, WEB, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Violinists always have been marginalized in jazz, notwithstanding the silken beauty of Stephane Grappelli's work and the historic contributions of Joe Venuti, Eddie South, Ray Nance and others. For this reason, and others, we should give thanks for the deepening contributions of Brock, whose every phrase argues for the instrument's value in 21st century jazz. Though Brock commands plenty of technique and a vibrantly attractive sound, it's the substance of his musical ideas that commands the most attention. You can hear as much on every track of "Almost Never Was," from the sprightly pizzicato passages of his "Common Ground" to the atmospheric effects of Joe Henderson's "Black Narcissus," from the soulful utterances of "You've Changed" (you'd swear he was playing a viola) to the gorgeous melody line of the title track, a Brock original. The violinist partners effectively with pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Matt Penman and drummer Eric Harland, but it's Brock's soaring lyricism that defines this recording.