New Album: Jakob Dreyer, Roots and Things

Bassist and Composer Jakob Dreyer Showcases a New Sound, a New Band and an Urge to Swing on his third album as a leader Roots and Things.

While the versatile German-born, New York-based bassist Jakob Dreyer had already proven himself quite a prolific composer on two previous volumes of his Songs, Hymns and Ballads, he takes things up a notch on Roots and Things. Assembling a formidable crew in vibraphone sensation Sasha Berliner, acclaimed tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott and in- demand drummer Kenn Salters, Dreyer showcases 15 vibrant and persistently swinging original compositions along with one well-chosen cover on his third recording for the Barcelona-based Fresh Sound New Talent label. With its emphasis on urgent swingers, muscular grooves and thoughtful ballads, interspersed with brief interludes serving as kind of palette-cleansers for the listener, Roots and Things is a profound statement by the bassist-composer who has become a ubiquitous figure on the NYC jazz scene since moving to the Big Apple in 2014.

“After my previous two albums, which featured piano (Jon Cowherd), I felt I wanted the next one to sound different,” said Dreyer. “So I was thinking what would be a good way to change it. And I thought of different instruments before settling on vibraphone. It just shapes the music so much, I think. And also, Dave Holland’s use of vibraphones on several of his records definitely was an influence in my decision.”

Visit online at www.jakobdreyer.com