The musicians who created this album are New York based, yet Spark is homage to rhythms and sounds that are associated with rural Americana. Though it has its self-indulgent moments Spark is a gentle love letter to rhythms and styles that are associated with lazy afternoons spent reclining on a porch in a small town, it brings to mind Randy Newman’s song Dayton, Ohio –1903.
Spark is the creation of Aaron Irwin (saxophone, clarinet), Mike Bagetta (guitar) and Bill Campbell (drums), and stretches to about 50 minutes. The style veers towards old fashion jazz with Irwin’s sax of sounding in places like a soulful impersonation of a femme fatal crooning about broken hearts late at night in a small town bar on Goodnight Laverne. It’s followed by A Song in the Front Yard (after Brooks) which conjures up a group of New Orleans revellers out in force, celebrating with their instruments on the street.
There are names of people attached to many of the tracks and one can but assume that these are homages to friends and loved ones, they certainly have a melodious tenderness that includes hints of folk and bluegrass on Goodnight Shirley.
The warm recording and the intimate feel of the studio add to the sense of a private session played in one’s living room. The sound stage is stable accurate and deeeeeeeeeeeeep, with the kick drum sounding as if it was planted five or so metres behind the left speaker. The sax and clarinet are beautifully etched in the sonic image and are eerily realistic in places.
The term sweet comes to mind when summing up Spark. It’s a very lovely gem that will help you to escape the constant stream of improbable news and bring joy and warmth during one of the rainiest winters. Spark will be available at the very beginning of March.
Reuben Klein