I’m not normally one for jazz music, although I never like to rule a genre out. However, Brooklyn-based jazz trio Stoop Pigeon have really taken me off guard with their own brand of jazz, impressing even a layman like me! Their EP, Quiet City, is a little different to what you might expect, containing elements of a number of other genres, providing appeal across the board. Why not take a chance and check it out?
By Jane Howkins
The EP opens up with a pretty little number, titled 300 Miles Forgiveness. Whilst the guitars do have something of a jazzy semblance, I also felt they aligned quite well with the folk genre, making for a song that is utterly unique. The drums are slow and steady in the background, creating a distinctive sound that serves the trio well. It’s actually pretty beautiful at times, making for a wonderful opener to this record.
Next up is the intriguingly titled Sleeping Bee, opening with a slightly more jazzy guitar motif than the previous track. It’s a tad more upbeat, playing along nicely against the bass and drums. There’s something rather catchy about this tune, making you want to tape your feet along to the irresistible rhythm. It gets a little experimental at times, as the main guitar melody changes throughout the track, progressing along in a gorgeous way.
Bronx River Sunrise opens with a guitar line that could be straight out of a country/American song, as the drums and bass follow the motif nicely. The guitar acts almost like a vocal line here, drifting through the music with effortless ease. It’s slightly more down-tempo than Sleeping Bee, but there’s lots of variation here, showing the true talent of this awesome jazz trio.
When Last We Spoke ends Quiet City nicely – it’s possible the slowest track here, but it’s got a subtle beauty to it. The main guitar melody sounds almost like something out of a spaghetti western tune at times, weaving in and out in a glorious way. The main note sequence is particularly beautiful, making this my favourite piece on the EP.
Jazz is often considered to be something of the past, but Stoop Pigeon show that certainly isn’t the case on their inventive new EP, Quiet City. The way they manage to change the genre by adding in elements of other styles make it all sound fantastic, sure to interest those into their more experimental forms of jazz.
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