Artist: Jeff Parker ETA IVtet
Album: The Way Out of Easy
Reviewer: Thomas Metzger
Jeff Parker has had quite a storied career: a Berklee College of Music grad and possibly best known as the guitarist for the post-rock band Tortoise (check out TNT if you haven’t – incredible album). However, his talents aren’t reigned in by Tortoise, as Parker is, in my opinion, one of the more underrated jazz guitarists and band leaders out there today. Parker made one of my favorite solo jazz guitar albums ever with his use of atmospheric textures and loops on 2021’s Forfolks, and also has fronted (led?) groups such as the New Breed in 2016 and now, the ETA IVtet.
Rounding out the ETA IVtet are Anna Butterss on amplified double bass, Jay Bellerose on drums and percussion and Josh Johnson on alto saxophone and electronics. (Check out their solo stuff, too, it’s all good). The Way Out of Easy is actually a live recording of the group, recorded at the now shuttered ETA in Los Angeles. According to their Bandcamp, the group “evolved from a band that played mostly standards into a group known for its transcendent, long-form (sometimes stretching out for 45 minutes or more) journeys into innovative, often uncharted territories of groove-oriented, painterly, polyrhythmic, minimalist and mantric improvised music.” This is where the ensemble cut their chops across the years, and it shows on this recording.
Opener “Freakadelic” is a sparse and groovy Parker piece, originally written in 2012, that in this rendition is like a potion of lounge jazz mixed with sonic exploration and electronic elements. Across its 23-minute runtime, it never really gets to a full-blown freakout, but still leaves the listener right on the edge of their seats waiting for what will happen next. The track never feels out of control or meandering, but rather tightly knit, the musicians never overstepping one another with what they decide to play. Every note matters.
The sudden closure of the ETA venue must’ve certainly had an impact on the group. This was their home for playing for many years, and you can certainly feel their emotion throughout the album, such as the opening notes to “Late Autumn,” where Parker takes center stage with his signature fingerpicking and harmonic sound, eventually layering background textures overtop – very Forfolks-esque. Slowly the ensemble joins in, and soon you are transported to a space ripe for deep thought, again sparse, but in a way where the sum of everyone’s parts creates a unique sonic texture and a beautiful feel that I can best describe as Miles Davis’ In a Silent Way meets Brian Eno’s Music for Airports. It leaves room for reminiscing on the past, something I’m sure the group felt when the ETA closed.
Overall, this album is rich with ambiance and moods, venturing deep within the psyche of the group without ever getting into anything too freaky for most people to enjoy. Each member has a unique playing style that, combined, is meditative and sonically rich. Perfect for night drives, smokey jazz clubs and deep meditative thought.
Favorite tracks: All of them!