Kenny Garrett & SVOY: Who Killed AI?

Saxophonist Garrett plays with typical flair over electronic backgrounds, including a updated view of Miles Davis's voodoo rundown

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Whilst the excellent Kenny Garrett needs no particular introduction, the Russia-born SVOY (Mikhail Tarasov) – producer, writer and musician – might not be familiar to jazz enthusiasts, given that his expertise is in electronica. He is no stranger to the Mack Avenue label but if his approach on this CD is anything to go by, he is likely to remain an acquired taste in improvised music circles.

SVOY’s backgrounds for Garrett often dominate proceedings but they are unsubtle, often clattering and annoyingly intrusive, suggesting this experiment was not a great choice for the saxophonist.

Almost all the music comes from Garrett, including Miles Running Down AI, giving a nod to Miles Runs The Voodoo Down, complete with wah-wah sounds. The exception is My Funny Valentine, which is given a treatment guaranteed to send many into apoplexy and borders on public crucifixion. The melody is there but…

It seems Garrett will thrive anywhere, and he has some tremendous solo episodes here, but these backings don’t really add much.

Discography
Ascendence; Miles Running Down AI; Transcendence; Divergence Tu-Dah; Ladies; My Funny Valentine; Convergence (35.13)
Garrett (as, ss, v); Svoy (prog, v, p). New Jersey, 2024.
Mack Avenue MAC1210