Pianist and composer Frank Carlberg releases the sweetness of poetry combined with the sound of jazz in his album Uncivilized Ruminations.
On the album Carlberg is accompanied by Christine Correa the vocalist, Chris Cheek and John O’Gallagher the saxophonists, John Hebert the bassist and drummer Michael Sarin.
Carlberg’s vision for Uncivilized Ruminations was the channel the spirit of American and European poetry in the each track.
The album starts off with the single “Lunatics.” In the single they used text from an 1852 medical journal that was about the common causes of lunacy in males. The song starts off with a slow and soft beat as the saxophone gracefully chimes in.
Correa then shouts out the word “Lunatics” which is off key and sounds like she is straining her voice. Carlberg, Sarin and Herbert shine in the single as they make a harmonious beat, but sadly they couldn’t drown out Correa’s rant. Listening to her voice in this single gives me no doubt of how someone could be forced into “lunacy.”
This same unconventional style is shown in the following single, “It Was All About…” which is the retelling of the legend of Tristan and Isolde. Correa’s voice is easier to listen to and takes a sweeter approach. Carlberg has his grand solo that pieces the single together.
The album shifts to a more pop sound fused with modern jazz in the single “Perfect.” It stands out from the rest because it breaks away from the traditional jazz sound that Carlberg started off with. Correa’s vocals are portrayed in a different light as she sings sensually through out the track.
Overall, Uncivilized Ruminations is a quirky album that was difficult to get through but it creatively brought the world of poetry and jazz together.