About

Argentine-born guitarist Dominic Miller is best known for his work with Sting. He’s an even-tempered musician with a firm yet understated voice who mostly opts for solo and duo sessions. Nonetheless, in this recording he leads a quartet with two new faces in the lineup, namely Swedish pianist Jacob Karlzon and the sought-after Israeli drummer Ziv Ravitz, who demonstrated rhythmic abilities in the trios of Christopher Irniger and Shai Maestro, as well as in a couple of outings from saxophonist Oded Tzur. Rounding out the group is bassist Nicolas Fiszman, a recurring collaborator. 

The music on Vagabond - titled after John Masefield’s poem - is soft on the ear and appeasing to the soul and mind. The opening title, “All Change”, is an open-ended cycle with an impressionistic underpinning, whereas “Cruel But Fair” is a brushed pop ballad soaked in Sting fashion. This precedes the rubato “Open Heart”, a cozy sonic space for reflection and where a world-inspired placidity reinforces the high levels of intimacy.

The ensemble is meticulous in crafting late-night slow dances and “Clandestin” glistens with a delicate pulsing quality and graceful funk demeanor. It might seem restricted to a bass pedal and undeviating percussion, but that’s not necessarily an obstruction to freedom. Moreover, it’s cuddled with nice linguistic observations by Karlzon. “Mi Viejo”, composed for Miller's father, is a yearning solo guitar effort that anticipates the poignant closer “Lone Waltz”. 

The easy listening offerings in Vagabond don’t transcend or frustrate. - Jazz Trail