We had Rafiq Bhatia as a guest on our DISCussion podcast in June of 2023. His new release, a collaboration with pianist Chris Pattishall, Each Dream, A Melting Door, is a mind-melting work that pushes the boundaries of "jazz". It takes me back to albums like those from Marc Johnson's Bass Desires, which featured Bill Frisell, Peter Erskine, and John Scofield. The album's opener, "Occlusion," is atmospheric and swirling. It sounds like leaves, long dry, floating and dancing in an old stone grain silo. Lifting and resettling, only to be lifted again by a late winter gust. Haunting synth-like guitar drones and pads, circular and hypnotic piano, and distorted and angular guitar lines run throughout the EP's five songs, and although some of the tunes could be catagorized as "ambient", they are simply patient improvisational compostions, played out by two musical virtuosos that have seemingly little desire to be flashy or virtuostic. On the album closer, "The Voice of Love", the juxaposition of the sound of sonic sheets tearing, married with a repetitive Gershwin-meets-Radiohead piano figure, is a perfect example of this duo's compsitional and sonic prowess. 

The "New Jazz" genre is an exciting space right now, and Each Dream, A Melting Door should be on every fan of the genre's list of albums to check out. Take this one for an evening drive on an open road, or get the headphones on and let your mind drift off into Rafiq and Chris' sonic psychedelia.

Produced by Rafiq Bhatia, recorded by Todd Carder at Sear Sound, mixed by Todd Carder and Rafiq Bhatia at The Bunker Studio. Mastered by Alex DeTurk.

 

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