ILYA OSACHUK

THE ANSWER

Independent Label

Ilya Osachuk, double bass; Tyler Henderson & Donald Vega, piano; Kai Craig & Billy Drummond, drums.

I’m a fiend for solid, Straight-ahead jazz and bebop.  I can gobble those genres up all day long and never get tired of listening.  Ilya Osachuk opens with “I Cover the Waterfront” and his big bass instrument shining like a meteor shower.  He introduces the melody first, then perfectly walks the rhythm, while holding the tempo solidly in place. Towards the end of the song, Kai Craig shows off his mad chops on the drums.

The second song is one of five original compositions that Osachuk has included on this album.  The tune is titled, “Lviv Perspective” and gives his band mates an opportunity to solo.  I love the melody of this tune and the syncopation. Osachuk composed this song while visiting Lviv, Ukraine in 2020. His style is modern but rooted in the traditional jazz that I appreciate so much.

“I was inspired to write this piece because of the cognitive dissonance I experienced when meeting my extended family in Ukraine for the first time. Questions swimming around my head at the time were, why do they seem so much happier than me, even though their lives seem so much harder?”

You can really hear his beautiful tone during the introduction to “February.” He performs solo for a minute before his lovely tune arrangement unfolds.  Unlike the icy cold month of February, this tune is warm and inviting, featuring Donald Vega on piano.  Osachuk’s original music is delightful to the ear. I’m happy to hear him express himself during solo’s he plays on each tune.  Just in case you think he can’t hang with the masters, Osachuk throws in a spirited arrangement of the Monk tune “Work” featuring Tyler Henderson on piano this time.

This album features two incredible piano trios.  On one Osachuk embraces Henderson on piano and Kai Craig on drums.  The other is made up of his mentors, pianist Donald Vega and Billy Drummond on drums.  I love Osachuk singing the beautiful melody of “Tenderly” on his bass, accompanied by Vega’s astute accompaniment. Those tinkling piano notes fall like crystal raindrops with a taste of the blues tinging them. Drummond’s brushes paint the rhythm into the piece delicately.  This album introduces us to a young, gifted composer and musician. Ilya Osachuk breathes new life into the jazz bass.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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