Stonedbird Productions (SBPT002)

Asaf Sirkis (d), Yaron Stavi (b), Tassos Spiliotopoulos (g) and guest Patrick Bettison (hca). Rec. March-May 2010

For those only familiar with Asaf Sirkis in his pivotal role as drummer for agit-prop multi-reedsman Gilad Atzmon’s Orient House ensemble or for that matter his contribution to bands such as Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio, Nicolas Meier Group or John Law trio, the music here should come as quite a surprise. But Sirkis’ electric trio, formed three years ago, represents the half of the Israeli expat drummer that grew up discovering Anglo-American rock and its virtuoso jazz cousin among everything else. Letting Go goes back to instrumental jazz-rock before it ironed out the creases and became an f-word.

Yet in very few places is it reminiscent of the phallic riffs and note frenzies of a Lifetime or Mahavishnu Orchestra. Rather, this is a gentler, dreamier take on the sub-genre by a band that wears its undoubted virtuoso skills lightly. The young London-based Greek guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos takes his cues from the more ambient side of Allan Holdsworth and early Pat Metheny. His ringing chorus-effected single note combinations hang expectantly in the air, and suggest a more direct rock music influence, a gothy sound that could have come from a number of eighties post-new wave-era rock bands.

Sirkis’ original themes similarly have dark, dreamy melodies and develop in a way they didn’t on The Monk his previous album from 2008, generating more opportunities for band interaction than previously. Alongside bassist Yaron Stavi, another Israeli expat who’s the other half of Gilad Atzmon’s rhythm section, Sirkis’ magnificent presence is always tempered by an acute sensitivity to group principles.

– Selwyn Harris