Deep Energy Orchestra - Playing With Fire

Deep Energy Orchestra – Playing With Fire

A truly absorbing display of empathic creativity, with all eight musicians truly on fire, who collectively have produced a deeply engrossing hour’s worth of compelling and fascinating music. Eclectic compositions combining World and cultural Indian music, jazz, classical and progressive rock, which “take the listener on a journey of exotic soundscapes”.

Recorded live over a two day period at Seattle’s Jack Straw Cultural Center as part of an Artist Residency Award. Best qualify the ‘live’ here, as Playing With Fire is a ‘studio environment’ live recording, captured on film and audio. This review takes a look at the audio version, released early last month. The DVD of the event was released more recently, a month or so after the CD version, and as there’s a few interesting vignettes from the DVD available on-line, so to give a visual flavour of the music in this review, they have been included here in abundance ?

Central to DEO is composer and bassist Jason Everett (aka Mister E), who holds everything groovingly in place with his six and seven string fretless instruments. He also performs some rather tasty solos as we can hear on DEO’s splendid interpretation of John McLaughlin’s Lotus Feet

There’s so much to enjoy on Playing With Fire, however one of the striking features of the music is how quickly it draws you into its flames. The Eastern sounds, hypnotic rhythms and subtle grooves captivate, leaving you gently swaying along to their alluring, if not oddly metered structures. The magic is, and for all its complexities, Playing With Fire is ensemble playing at its finest. The album opener captures it all… just take a listen.

Joining Jason Everett is master percussionist V. Selvaganesh on Kanjira on his “custom kit”. Another unfamiliar name perhaps, however Selvaganesh has previously toured with the John McLaughlin band as well as a member of the the Remember Shakti project. And I do remember, like many children of the ’50s, John McLaughlin’s fiery 1976 Shakti album serving as a serious “introduction” to Indian music. I mention this as V. Selvaganesh is the son of percussionist T.H. Vikku Vinayakram who appeared on the aforementioned album.

I digress. Joining Selvaganesh, in the percussion department, is Anil Prassad who provides powerful support on tabla.

Okay… if Jason Everett, V. Selvaganesh and Anil Prassad are names that elude, King Crimson’s Trey Gunn will certainly be a familiar one.

Awesome!

Did someone mention an orchestra?

Not to be taken literally of course, however the string section of Rachel Nesvig (violin), Aleida Gehrels (viola) and Phil Hirschi (cello), serve to coalesce the music immeasurably. Contributing on mass, and or individually, their introduction to this project is truly inspired, and to prove the point here is one such inspired moment as Rachel Nesvig weaves a magical spell.

Whilst on with the string section we must name check the wonderful contributions from Radhika Iyer on seven string violin…

So what else might there be to say?

The recording is top notch with each instrument transparent and crystal clear in the final mix.

With the exception of two tracks, all compositions on the album are by Jason Everett. Covers include Honor/Amazing Grace and Mahavishnu Orchestra fans will be enthralled by the extended interpretation of Lotus Feet, recorded by DEO at Open Space, Vashon Island, Washington.

As the end of the year approaches and thoughts turn towards the inevitable annual polls – Playing With Fire must surely be a hot favourite ?

TRACK LISTING
01. The Return (4:47)
02. Awakening (7:53)
03. Mysterious World (5:13)
04. The River (7:54)
05. Lotus Feet (10:13)
06. Resolve/Improv/Caravan (19:37)
07. Honor/Amazing Grace (4:20)

Total Time – 60:00

MUSICIANS
Jason Everett (Mister E) – 7-string Fretless & 6-string Acoustic Basses
V. Selvaganesh – Kanjira & Custom Drum Kit
Trey Gunn – Warr Guitar
Radhika Iyer – 7-string Electric Violin
Anil Prasad – Tabla
Rachel Nesvig – Violin
Aleida Gehrels – Viola
Phil Hirschi – Cello

ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: 7D Media
Country of Origin: U.S.A.
Date of Release: 1st October 2018

LINKS
Deep Energy Orchestra – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp