"Iman Spaargaren takes 'Sly Fly' in a convincing way to a perfect synergy between soul jazz and post bop" (Bernard Lefèvre, Jazzhalo.be)
Eye Man All – Stars - Sly Fly
Eyeman Records
The Dutch tenor saxophonist Iman Spaargaren is known as sideman of the StarkLinnemann Quartet and his own formations such as Undercurrent Trio (with guitarist Guillermo Celano and drummer Marcos Baggiani), Pelican Three (with trumpet player Dirk Beets and guitarist Mark Tuinstra) and Voice of Monk. He also made the cinematic music score for the successful storytelling "My Father Held A Gun" with guitarist Celano.
Iman Spaargaren is boldly going for an infectious funk and groovy sound on his new album "Sly Fly". Powerful melodies and positive vibes characterize Eye Man All - Stars with entirely own work by Iman Spaargaren except for one, "Witch Hunt" by Wayne Shorter.
The album opens with a spicy interplay of sax and Fender Rhodes in "Circonflex". In "Get A Life", Spaargaren evokes the fusion sound of Eddie Harris, beautifully underlined by Balthaus and the rhythm section. "Monsieur Toubab" is driven by an afro-groove and true soul jazz. Spaargaren improvises powerfully and exuberantly over a passionate Efraim Schulz-Wackerbarth on drums.
The latter, born in Australia but living in Amsterdam, took lessons from Marcel Serierse and Martijn Vink. He recorded the album "Soul Windows" with bassist Hendrik Müller (born in Detmold, Germany). We know him from Mehmet Polat & Embracing Colors and he is a member of the Erik Verwey Trio.
And last but not least, Dirk Balthaus completes the quartet and switches on the album from piano to Fender Rhodes in infectious fusion. He is also a major voice in the Braskiri group (Bart Lochs).
Eye Man All-Stars continues to show his resilient and improvisational talent in the title track "Sly Fly" and Shorter’s "Witch Hunt" with passionate solo work by Spaargaren in great shape! In "New Morning" things are surprisingly going in a Brazilian direction. "Snaakje" is melodically strong and rooted in tradition. Very minimalistically the album ends with "Dreamstate", a musing soundscape with Fender Rhodes and sax.
Iman Spaargaren takes 'Sly Fly' in a convincing way to a perfect synergy between soul jazz and post bop.
© Bernard Lefèvre
