Nicole Mitchell: Aquarius

Nicole Mitchell (flute)

Aquarius (Delmark; 2013)
Frank Rosaly (drums)
Jason Adasiewicz (vibraphone)
Joshua Abrams (bass)

Nicole Mitchell returns to scene with her fifteenth album, Aquarius. And--as always, its a majestic affair. Pared with fellow Chicago creatives, Rosaly, Adasiewicz and Abrams, Nicole Mitchell has breathed new life into her already ethereal compositions.

The spirit of Coltrane and Dolpy floats swiftly through "Aqua Blue." Filled with a funky blues vibe, Abrams and Rosaly moving the melody along mixed with Mitchell and Adasiewicz swirling harmonics solidifies a beautiful opening number. Abrams sets a dark tone on "Aquarius." His opening lines and strokes are heavy, intense and intricate. The rest of group slowly arrive, creating a choral ballad that slides and drifts from structure to improvised, effortlessly. Mitchell's tone and steady pace is augmented by the freedom she allows her bandmates to explore through the last quarter of the piece.

I loved the soulful bebop ride of "Sunday Afternoon." A groovy number with an infectious rhythm section that sets up Mitchell's richly spiritual spacial patterns. Closing with the tribute to Chicago legend and one of my personal favourite musicians, Fred Anderson is lovely sentiment. Guest vocalist, Calvin Gantt delivers the importance his presence was (and is) to the scene. A pray and a testimony to his greatness.

Aquarius is yet another excellent session from Nicole Mitchell. And with another great set of young musicians, Mitchell brings a fresh perspective that just might be what those who haven't heard before need. Aquarius will be one of those records that you'll want to tell everyone friend you know to get. Highly Recommended.

Best Albums of 2011: Nicole Mitchell

JazzWrap revisits a great year of discoveries in 2011.


Nicole Mitchell (flute)

Awakening (Delmark; 2011)

Avreeayl Ra (drums)

Jeff Parker (guitar)

Harrison Bankhead (bass)

Awakening was one of a slew of records that came at me out of nowhere. I quickly feel in love with Nicole Mitchell's performance here. The writing is tight, spiritual and groovy all at once. As I mentioned in my discussion of the album, it brings back a lot of that Black Power Jazz that floated between Detroit, Chicago and New York in the late '60s and early '70s. There are also moments where the experience of playing with the likes Rob Mazurek in Exploding Star Orchestra seems to have rubbed off ("Journey Of A Thread"). The quartet setting allows the individuals to stand out more. Mitchell's quiet and personal display on "Snowflakes" is indicative of touching Awakening can be on the listener.

Jeff Parker compliments Mitchell on this session with stellar playing that shift from blues to improvised jazz so smoothly you barely notice the changes. Harrison Bankhead and Avreeayl Ra (bass and drums respectively) do more than keep the time and rhythm. Ra's solo during moments is killer and unexpected after the mood Mitchell has set to this point. Bankhead adds a funky but sinister bassline to "There" which Mitchell tempers with some gentle but free moving colours.

Awakening is a laid back, psychedelic, soulful work that won't have you talking about the flute. It will have you taking about the composer. Here's our first discussion on Awakening.