photo by Luke Marantz; photo courtesy of hubtone PR

Album Review of Mareike Wiening – Reveal

Drummer/bandleader/composer Mareike Wiening teams with Rich Perry (saxophone), Glenn Zaleski (piano), Alex Goodman (guitar), and Johannes Felscher (bass) on Reveal. They’re joined by Dave Douglas (trumpet) on three of the album’s eight tracks.

image courtesy of hubtone PR

The music on this disc is smooth – great music to listen to while working, as I’m fond of saying about my favorite instrumental discs. That means, of course, that it’s unobtrusive enough that it doesn’t interrupt my thought process but memorable enough that I find myself humming them later in the day (or bobbing and swaying to them while working).

Album opener “Time for Priorities” is one of my favorite songs on Reveal. I love the journey the saxophone takes throughout the song, bolstered by some percussion and keys that help to bridge the gaps and some thumpy plucking on the bass in the style that those of us who aren’t jazz experts expect from a jazz bassist.

photo by Luke Marantz; photo courtesy of hubtone PR

My other favorite song on this album is “Reveal,” and rock fans who enjoy drum solos might appreciate the featured drum part early on, which leads into the lively horn part that serves as a recurring thread to stitch this song together.

There are elements that stand out on all the tracks. I mean, I really enjoy the pianowork early in “The Girl By the Window.” And “Encore” and “Balada” are probably the most melancholy tracks, at least predominantly. Whether you’re a big jazz fan or, like me, a more casual enjoyer of some occasional jazz, you’ll discover something you like on Reveal.

Looking Ahead

Per the “Shows” page of Mareike’s website, she’ll be performing in Germany (plus one date each in Vienna and Zurich) in January, February, and March. If that’s near you, be sure to check her website for dates and venues.