Tassos Spiliotopoulos

“Apchipelagos”

(F-ire Presents F-IRE CD 32)

Greek born guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos is probably best known to British jazz audiences as a member of drummer and composer Asaf Sirkis’ trio. However the London based musician has a parallel solo career and “Archipelagos” represents the long awaited follow up to “Wait For Dusk” (Konnex Records, 2006) , an album reviewed elsewhere on this site.

“Archipelagos” sees Spiliotopoulos moving labels and appears under the umbrella of the F-ire Collective. Once more the album features Spiliotopoulos’ two colleagues from the Sirkis trio with Asaf appearing alongside bassist Yaron Stavi. Tenor saxophonist Robin Fincker, who expanded the group to a quartet on “Wait For Dusk” is gone but “Archipelagos” benefits from the presence of two distinguished guests. Fellow guitarist John Parricelli offers an alternative voice on “The Quest” and the peerless trumpeter Kenny Wheeler graces the track “Cosmic Motion”. 

The eight pieces featured on the album are all Spiliotopoulos originals and things commence with the impressionistic title track. The sound of seagulls quickly gives way to keening electric guitar. There’s an agreeably serene air about the piece, a homage I suspect to Spiliotopoulos’ homeland, and the delicate interplay between guitar, bass and drums is exquisite. Sirkis’ succinct drum punctuation is particularly impressive.

“The Quest” sees Spiliotopoulos doubling up on electric and acoustic guitars and there’s also a guest appearance from fellow guitarist John Parricelli, former Loose Tube, prolific jazz sideman and pop session veteran. It’s guitar heaven as the two guitar heroes vie for excellence on Spiliotopoulos’ breezy tune. The composer goes first, using his effects pedals judiciously, and is followed by Parricelli who produces his characteristically clean, singing lines.

Spiliotopoulos’ main influence is Allan Holdsworth but his writing and playing has a more pastoral, cinematic quality than that of the celebrated fusion veteran. On “Red Veil” he adopts a more obvious jazz guitar sound in yet another piece that exhibits great interaction between the trio members with something of a feature for the excellent Sirkis in the tune’s closing stages. His drumming is highly colourful with his cymbal choices particularly impressive.

Other musicians to influence Spiliotopoulos include Bill Frisell, Wolfgang Muthspiel and John Abercrombie. Elements from all three can be discerned in Spiliotopoulos’ playing but his style remains distinctive and highly individualistic. “Secret View” contains more of Spiliotopoulos’ elegant guitar ruminations plus a dexterous, resonant solo from Stavi at the bass.

“Cosmic Motion” introduces the timeless Kenny Wheeler-eighty this year. Spilitopoulos responds to the trumpeter’s still flawless playing with one of his most memorable solos of the set. Elsewhere the pair double up effectively on the melody line of one of Spilotopoulos’ strongest compositions. With customarily excellent support from Stavi and Sirkis this is arguably the album’s stand out cut.

“Prayer” has the kind of meditative aura its title suggests with more sublime group interaction. “Out And About” is altogether livelier, a piece built on slippery little riffs and grooves and with a splendidly soaring rock influenced guitar solo mid track as Spiliotopoulos explores Holdsworth-esque territory.

The closing “Stepping Stones” is similarly breezy with Spilitopoulos soloing nimbly above Stavi’s fast walking bass groove. There’s also another agile solo from the bassist and the whole thing is powered by Sirkis’ crisp, colourful but sensitive drumming.

“Archipelagos” unveils another excellent set of Spiliotopoulos compositions and the playing is of the high standard we have come to expect from these three regular colleagues. It would have been nice to have heard rather more from Wheeler but this is a relatively minor quibble about an album that proves to be worthy successor to the very good “Wait For Dusk”. 

blog comments powered by Disqus