Album review: 'Ask for Chaos'

By Ron Netsky

[
      {
        "name": "500x250 Ad",
        "insertPoint": "5",
        "component": "15667920",
        "parentWrapperClass": "",
        "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
      }
    ]

Gilad Hekselman

"Ask for Chaos"

Motéma Music

giladhekselman.com

It has a decidedly odd title and only lasts a few seconds, but "prologu00001101" -- the wonderfully crazy opening track from guitarist Gilad Hekselman's newly released "Ask For Chaos" -- lets you know in no uncertain terms that this will not be a run-of-the-mill jazz album. Hekselman has collaborated with Christian McBride, Anat Cohen, Jeff "Tain" Watts, and others since arriving from Israel in 2004. Here, Hekselman has created a futuristic masterwork. The album contains a rich amount of masterfully employed electronics, enhancing the textures and shapes of the tunes.

Hekselman recorded the CD with two of his ensembles. In ZuperOctave, Aaron Parks is wildly adventurous every time he takes off on piano, synthesizer, or Fender Rhodes, while Kush Abadey keeps everything anchored on the drums. Meanwhile, Hekeselman'sgHex Trio features the superb, if somewhat more traditional playing of bassist Rick Rosato and drummer Jonathan Pinson. Hekselman's performance is fantastic throughout, and the album leaves no doubt about his compositional prowess. Excellent originals range from the urgent ("VBlues"), the impressionistic ("Stumble"), and the simply beautiful ("Do Re Mi Fa Sol").