By: Marcos Rios
The Key is in the Window
Aaron Shragge is a young trumpet and Shakuhachi flute player who, on his first recording date as a leader, collaborates with New York virtuoso guitarist Ben Monder in an intimate duo setting. The duo setting of wind instrument and guitar is certainly not a departure for Monder, whose previous record Bloom was recorded with Saxophonist Bill McHenry, a record on which they both bewitchingly achieve loose, ethereal atmospheres. The Key is in the Window is a reflection of Shragge’s musical influences, such as the music of Shakuhachi flute and North Indian Vocal style music. Aaron Shragge, in my opinion, creates a remarkable bond between Oriental and Indian traditions with his own Western musical roots. The talented multi-instrumentalist pays tribute to his influences by performing pieces from the Shakuhachi repertoire, such as “Choshi” and “Kyorei,” as well as music from the North Indian Classical tradition.
The way the duo portrays the North Indian Classical tradition is with long extended drones, over which the soloist creates moods by playing and experimenting with melodic fragments upon the drone. I find it interesting that Monder and Shragge are performing in a duet setting, primarily because it’s not only a difficult musical situation, but they both still achieved their artistic purposes. Seeing that the pieces are performed in a duet setting, the sounds created by these two world-class musicians takes the listener to varying celestial moments of clarity and depth that one would not expect. Shragge and Monder manage to paint musical imagery that transcends genre and style, and captures the listener’s soul with subtle gestures of dynamics and space.
Monder’s accompaniment style throughout the record is calm, delicate and precise, creating walls of sound that go beyond expectations by creating amazing aural possibilities. The performers contain such a deep connection with each other that they behave as musical counterparts, picking up on each others musical nuances and subtleties. The opening track on The Key is in the Window is a piece titled “Mesopelagic Drift,” which sets the mood for the entire record. The mood is hypnotically relaxing and surpasses human consciousness, making us feel the sensibility of the moment.
On this recording, one feels the perfect balance between two amazing musicians creating truly new music. Monder shows us once again his mastery and sensibility by opening us up to a world of hauntingly beautiful harmonic accompaniments with his guitar. Monder has stretched the boundaries of what a guitar can do. Throughout the entire record one feels the balance between simple and the complex that only musicians true to their craft can achieve.
One of my favorite pieces in this record is called “Trust,” a piece that uses a simple progression and melody that sticks to one’s ears. The improvisation is also wonderful, creating beautiful ideas that never go overboard and satisfy the listener’s urge for new music. This recording features continuously forward looking musicians that have looked into the past musical traditions, primarily from the North Indian Classical tradition and Japanese music, and have conjured beautiful, new music from these genres. The Key is in the Window is definitely a recording to check out for those who want to expand their ears musically and want to find something truly new in the realm of improvised music.
