Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Nikol Bókóva: Prometheus

3

Nikol Bókóva: Prometheus

By

Sign in to view read count
Nikol Bókóva: Prometheus
The quintet which pianist Nikol Bókóva rounded up for her third album as a leader can be regarded as a showpiece of the young and dynamic talents stirring up the Czech jazz scene. Featuring the crafty skills of contemporary guitarist David Doruzka, French-horn player Radek Baborák's exceptional lyricism, and a versatile rhythm section made up of bassist Jaromír Honzák and Michal Wierzgon, Prometheus presents a highly melodious program which blends timeless lyricism with modern soundscapes to an effect that weighs heavy on the melancholic side of the spectrum.

Large cataclysmic arcs and palpable emotionality draw through all-new Bokova-material, most likely owing some of its more dramatic tendencies to the passing of an unnamed person close to the pianist, just before this project's inception. Wistful cadences descending at mid-tempo pace, such as the ones introduced on the opener "A Star Trodden Way," are commonplace throughout the set, recurring on the title track, "Like a Boy," "Perseids" and "Two Peculiar Girls," inviting guitar and French horn in for embellishing solos, atmosphere and accompaniment. Embellishment is among the album's main mottos.

Much of the music on Prometheus demonstrates slick production and beautiful musicianship which decorates the surface in sparkling delight, but more often than not, little compositional substance seems to lie behind that veil. Where "Prometheus" is marked by its dichotomous structure, rotating quietly spacious ensemble interplay with a rhythmically driven middle section which lights the sparks under engaged bass and drum interplay and sumptuous horn and guitar arrangement, other titles fall flat in comparison. "On a Meadow" is an atmospheric piano interlude which bridges between the swift title track and the meditative "Lightness of Space," another gentle sound-sketch that finishes on a breakdown of sorts, seeing the guitar shredding away in pure bliss. Both songs have pretty intentions but do not seem able to make lasting impressions

Other cuts come and go in a similar way, "Perseids" washing by with subtle brush work and a nicely developed guitar solo while "Peaceful Ride" introduces haunting Latin rhythm into the mix. However, "Like A Boy" and "Nunchaku" are cut from different cloth and are among the standout tracks of the set. The former is a nimble piano arpeggio exercise accompanied by hovering melodic lines on guitar and trumpet to a rapid percussion backdrop, while the latter sets the scene for an impressive French horn recitation by Baborak, performing a dreamy flight through playful eights and sextuplets in duo with Bokova, whose occasional right-hand flares point out the composed bits of the composition.

Occasionally Bókóva's part-through-composed, part-improvised musings show similarities to some of the developments in jazz on the other side of the Atlantic—her peer Aaron Parks' instrumental indie rock meets jazz outfit Little Big especially comes to mind. From a sonic point of view Prometheus is pretty much as prolific as it gets and the leader's modern vision resonates powerfully throughout the set, making up for a slight lack of compositional character. At 30 years of age, that is not much of a hurdle to overcome for a pianist, whose style just might thrive in the current musical climate.

Track Listing

A Star-Trodden Way; Prometheus; On a meadow; Lightness of Space; Like a Boy; Nunchaku; Perseids; Two peculiar Girls; Peaceful Ride; Heart of Gold.

Personnel

Album information

Title: Prometheus | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Animal Music


Next >
Thunda

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Slow Water
Stephan Crump
Contrafactus
Spike Wilner Trio
Psychedelic Rio
Vinicius Cantuaria

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.