The wonderful new pairing from the Parsons x Har Even x Ravitz trio offers up an enthralling new project bursting at the seams with incredible energy and bolstered by its three uniquely individual contributors.
Vocalist, pianist and composer Claire Parsons has steadily been cultivating an incredible career in recent years. Offering her distinctly unique vision for contemporary jazz, bolstered by her far-reaching and diverse affections for everything from musical theatre to classical piano and modern day jazz composition, Parsons has steadily cultivated a fantastic and burgeoning catalogue of material that continues to garner widespread acclaim. Past releases have included the full-length albums 'In Geometry' (2020) and 'The Aquatic Museum' (2023), along with releases in support of her duo project alongside fellow Parsons x Har Even x Ravitz member, Eran Har Even, for 'OnOff' (2019).
The Amsterdam-based guitarist, Har Even, has crafted a resume that sees him as equally esteemed an artist as his frequent collaborator in Parsons - having collaborated with a strong line-up of contemporary European-based talent including saxophonist Susanne Alt and vocalists Sietske and Henk Kraaijeveld. Revered for his open-mindedness and cross-genre approach to music-making - from his standalone releases to his electronic-meets-ambient duo project alongside Attie Bauw in Hypnosphere - Har Even consistently proves a perfect musical companion as he boldly embraces opportunities to reconceptualize perceptions of his music.
With Parson and Har Even having worked together for some time now, their connecting with drummer and composer Ziv Ravitz proved an exciting addition to their already well-oiled machine. Offering exciting new dimensions to their music, Ravitz boasts an incredible career to date that has, again, seen him helm his own projects as well as chalk up some high profile guest duties for projects by Avishai Cohen, Gilad Hekselman, Lionel Loueke and Lee Konitz.
For all of the projects this trio has worked on and all the high profile collaborations each has secured, there's an unmistakable magic that Parsons, Har Even & Ravitz have stumbled upon with each other that results in a sensational debut offering. A real rewriting of the rule book, so to speak, musically 'Parsons x Har Even x Ravitz' showcases some mind-blowing performances and beyond imaginative sonic soundscapes that are as captivating and intricately woven as they are liberatingly free of form.
Album opener 'Hidden Spirits' offers a glimpse into the vast scope of inspired sonics that Parsons, Har Even & Ravitz are envisaging over the course of the album's nine tracks. But while tracks like 'Two Steps Behind' and 'I Changed My Head' embrace the limitless potential within the large scale and ambitious musical palette, a track like '4:15 a.m.' can shift directions completely with an elegant slice of folk inspirations. Similarly, the utterly sublime 'Rumours' once again recontextualizes the trio's music up to that point presenting a notably beautiful inclusion for the project. A final mention really should go to 'State of Mind' which may very well present the album's gleaming highlight as it manages to encapsulate everything the album strives to convey musically through a brilliant and personality-riddled composition.
'Parsons x Har Even x Ravitz' is an album that feels boldly ambitious but undeniably natural at the same time. An incredibly expressive and boundary-pushing project that presents the group's unity while still celebrating their individual voices at the same time.
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