Notes:


Virtuoso jazz clarinetist Frank Glover once again displays his compositional prowess in this collection of originals. Glover's subtle musical nuances display his mastery of the clarinet. Highlighted by the three-movement Concierto Para Quarteto, Politico is an album that will become a favorite in any jazz aficionado's cd collection.


Artist Roster:
Frank Glover: clarinet
Steve Allee: piano
Jack Helsley: bass
Bryson Kern: drums

Studio Jazz Orchestra on Plastic Plants

Chamber String Orchestra on The Last Blue Tang and A Thousand Ships



Track Listing:
1. One Way Ticket
2. Politico
3. The Last Blue Tang
4. Concierto Para Quarteto I
5. Concierto Para Quarteto II
6. Concierto Para Quarteto III
7. Plastic Plants
8. A Thousand Ships



Reviews:

First of all, the sound is unbelievably clean, Olympian even by Owl Records' already stratospheric standards. Then, Glover's choice of group members is flawless, especially in pianist Steve Allee, who possesses a touch that both bolsters and expands the instrument's straight-ahead capabilities. Bryson Kern's a smooth-flowing drummer understanding that a rhythm section can simultaneously provide the bedrock and speak distinctively while Jack Helsey's bass becomes a colorative instrument expanding the atmospherics, three-dimensionalizing Glover's playgrounds. - MARK S. TURNER F.A.M.E.

Clarinetist Frank Glover is one whose modernity is clear and present, but there are elements of classical and Latin musics lined in the threads of it. One of the more literate, thoughtful, and accessible players of the noble wooden instrument, Glover and his able accompanists run through some original material that speaks to the heart and head simultaneously. This is clever jazz, but not overly intellectualized, spare while avoiding clichés, and joyous instead of giddy. Most of it is quartet music featuring the fine pianist Steve Allee, but in some instances a larger orchestral element is added including strings. There's nothing syrupy or dramatically romantic about the music, but instead the larger instrumentation broadens the sounds, avoiding anything that overwhelms the principal soloists. And make no mistake, it is Glover's instrument that is in prime focus from start to finish, featured almost exclusively as a melody maker and soloist. A distinct tango element is easily heard during "One Way Ticket," but rock & roll or a chunk of funk buoys Glover's tart sweet clarinet. "The Last Blue Tang" sports a title that speaks for itself in its serene, somber, and string-driven tones. The three-part "Concierto Para Quarteto," at over 16 minutes, demands attention, going from dark tones in 4/4 to tango and a midtempo pace accented by Glover's fluttery trills. The full orchestration during "Plastic Plants" does not deter from the quality of the individualists as it expands a slight samba beat with brass, flutes, and bass clarinet in a favorable comparison to what Gil Evans might conceive, while "A Thousand Ships" utilizes a naturally oceanic seascape. The closest track to straight-ahead jazz, the title track uses a two-note chord progression from Allee, tricky mixed meters and dramatically bold bop. Glover meticulously composed all of this music, clearly a labor of love, and a showcase for his personal style of playing an instrument that has offered far too few champions for many decades. Perhaps with this fine effort, a new standard bearer has been crowned. - MICHAEL G. NASTOS AllMusic.com