Just Jazz Guitar Rosetta review, February 2007
There was a time when the words "country fusion" would turn people away from a recording or artist, but with the abundance of great records being released in the genre its hard not to enjoy this eclectic blend of North meets South. The success of artists like Bill Frisell and Norah Jones has opened the door for other young artists to explore their country roots with a modern jazz touch, and no one is doing this better than Stephan Crump.
With Rosetta, Crump brings myriad influences to the table: country, folk, blues, bebop, free/modern jazz and rockabilly. Though it would be easy to be overwhelmed by the vast array of genres being touched upon on this album, Crump does a marvelous job in stripping away these musical borders and producing a unique and personal sound that is all of these genres and yet none of them at the same time.
His original compositions range from country twang to free improvisations, though the music never seems out of control or boxed in by these various structures. Crump, bass, and bandmates Liberty Ellman, guitar, and Jamie Fox, guitar, masterfully bring together the written material and improvised solos to create a larger work that is not separated into distinct solo or head sections. This is not your typical head blowing head trio, the compositions are complex and the improvisations impressive but there is never a sense of a spotlight on any musician. These three have truly achieved the "group" dynamic that so many of us strive to attain.
I highly recommend Rosetta, it is a wonderful change from the norm and yet there is something familiar about each tune. Crump is a world class composer and performer and I hope we are experiencing only the beginning of things to come.