Last Year's Ghost is the debut album by Loose Assembly, a quintet led by American jazz drummer Mike Reed featuring alto saxophonist Greg Ward, vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, cellist Tomeka Reid and bassist Josh Abrams. It was released in 2007 on 482 Music.Last Year's Ghost at 482 Music The recording started in 2005 and completed in 2006, but the original sessions were lost and the album is a re-creation of the lost recordings.
Reception
In his review for AllMusic, Michael G. Nastos says "It's a very interesting and accessible disc worth owning and listening closely to."
The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes that the album "has a highly distinctive sound, with the leader's accurate time-sense a key component on 'Day of the Head' and the later 'Ghost Writer', in double-waltz time." In the later The Penguin Jazz Guide they reflected "if ever a contemporary record grows with familiarity, this is it"
All About Jazz published several reviews: Troy Collins states "A brilliant debut, Last Year's Ghost merges the austere reverence of chamber music with the scalding intensity of Chicago's historically ebullient free jazz."Collins, Troy. Last Year's Ghost review at All About Jazz Jerry D'Souza says "The album impresses with its blend of the improvised and the composed."D'Souza, Jerry. Last Year's Ghost review at All About Jazz Nic Jones notes "Each listen seems to bring new rewards, which makes this one something of a rarity in itself."Jones, Nic. Last Year's Ghost review at All About Jazz
In a review for JazzTimes, Forrest Dylan Bryant states "A unique quintet lineup with alto sax, vibes, cello and bass wraps a dark, velvety texture around vaguely nostalgic ballads, and adds density to surging, uptempo grooves."Bryant, Forrest Dylan. Last Year's Ghost review at JazzTimes
The Point of Departure review by Bill Shoemaker describes the album as "a well-designed collection of hook-filled tunes and atmospheric interludes" and concludes "Just a few more recordings like Last Year’s Ghost and Mike Reed will be in the first rank of living American bandleaders."Shoemaker, Bill. Last Year's Ghost review at Point of Departure
Track listing All compositions by Mike Reed except as indicated "Flowers" (Loose Assembly) – 2:14 "Day of the Dead" – 7:13 "Old Souls" – 2:20 "Afterthoughts" – 6:32 "1974" (Loose Assembly) – 1:51 "The Entire State of Florida" – 7:34 "Exorcism" (Loose Assembly) – 1:58 "Simone's Crumbs" – 4:24 "Temporary States" – 0:23 "Ghost Writer" – 5:50 "Dreaming with Jill" – 5:10
Personnel Mike Reed – drums Josh Abrams – bass Jason Adasiewicz - vibraphone Tomeka Reid – cello Greg Ward – alto sax
References