by Bob Karlovits
September, 2010
Frank Glover
ABACUS
Frank Glover is capable of many things on the clarinet, not the least of which is playing it well in a thoughtful way. "Abacus" is a collection of works featuring his quartet and a small orchestra that provides dramatic backup. The arrangements feature a wide variety of sounds. They range from the gentle, woodwind-dominated "Two Shades of Green" to "Ballerina," which lilts along to the piano of Zach Lapidus and a string section. "Modern Times" heads in that direction with electric bass of Jack Helsley and Glover on soprano sax. That song and "Salamanca" provide a more aggressive sound than the haunting "Lost Sumino" with its strings, spare piano and lean clarinet lines. This album doesn't have the improvisation that is the heartbeat of jazz, but its richness and strong performance make it stand out.