[TR24][OF] Scott DuBois - Winter Light - 2015 (Contemporary Jazz, Free Jazz, ACT Music)

Scott DuBois, the 37-year old American Jazz guitarist and composer is one of the most important figures on the young New York Jazz scene. His quartet plays original compositions which point to future trends. The group's focus is on collective improvisation, interaction and creating the unexpected. The album 'Winter Light' is programmatic, and marks his debut on ACT. 'Winter Light' transports the listener on a day's journey. The music captures such visions in sound: 'First Light Tundra” opens with the earliest glimpse of light over a cold, desolate landscape as birds awake, call, and fly off into the distance. In a battle between darkness and light, fierce crashing winds obscure the approaching sunrise with flying snow. The sun triumphs in the end. 'Early Morning Forest' introduces a stately pine forest soon pierced by rays of light dazzling snow-filled branches and the white forest floor. Deeper in the forest an ominous cold mist fills the air. 'Late Morning Snow' conveys the elegance and peaceful nature of light on newly fallen snow. 'Noon White Mountain” begins with the day's most powerful light on majestic snowcapped mountains. They are slowly overtaken by dark clouds. A distant storm transforms into a passing gentle freezing rain. Then bright noon light returns. 'Afternoon Ice Fog' evokes mysterious light reflections from the tiny ice crystals suspended in the air. In 'Evening Blizzard' the light is shrouded by the intensity of a snowstorm. Peace and tranquility return in “Night Tundra” where moonlit snow glows in the darkness.