CHRIS VARGA

BREATHE

Calligram Records

Chris Varga, vibraphone/composer; Dave Miller, guitar; Clark Sommers, bass; Neil Hemphill, drums; Geof Bradfield, tenor saxophone.

In the 1990s, vibraphonist and composer, Chris Varga moved to Seoul, South Korea. There, he became one of the busiest musicians in their growing jazz community. He has lived there for over two decades.

During an extended trip to the United States, in 2024, Varga decided to go into the studio with some old friends based in Chicago, Illinois.  The result is this innovative album.

Varga called on Grammy Award winning bassist, Clark Sommers, to be part of his project. Clark is an old friend since their college days in the mid-90s.

“As we get older, musicians are perhaps inclined to seek out projects that are social in nature.  We want to make quality music with our close friends. This project satisfied that urge in a very meaningful way,” Chris Varga explained.

Varga’s “Breathe” album showcases his very distinct and personal voice as a modern composer and features original music he has created over the last couple of years. He composed “Breathe,” the title tune, specifically for this quintet. Other songs were specifically arranged and tailored for these American musicians that he knew so well.

They open with the composition, “Durantula.”  I know the basketball player, Kevin Durant likes to be called that as a nickname, but is this tune about him? I look to the Varga press package for answers.  Turns out, that’s exactly why Chris Varga wrote this song. It bounces onto the scene like a Kevin Durant tribble towards the basket, exuding energy.

The title tune comes next, with Varga’s warm vibraphone revealing the melody. Then Geof Bradfield’s tenor saxophone takes tender time to unveil that melody again and expand on it. He leaves space for the very talented Dave Miller to step forward on guitar and mesmerize me.

Varga enjoys shifting rhythms and implementing mood changes in his music that keeps the listener alert. Those sometimes-unexpected harmonic chords, that play beneath his interesting melodies, can be dissonant. At other times, they are harmonically lovely. I enjoy the interplay between Varga’s vibes, Millers fluid and always beautiful guitar solos, and Bradfield’s tenor saxophone. You hear these three musicians, strong and independent, holding court during the arrangement of “Breathe.”  They sound like friends talking, speaking clearly in the improvised language of their instruments.

The drummer has ‘hip hop’ roots, that splash out now and again like beer spilling from a too-full mug. Neil Hemphill’s drums intoxicate us. On a tune called “Lid” the meter alternates from 9/8 to 4/4. On three songs, Chris Varga drops the saxophone from his arrangements and features only his quartet. When they play “Passing Remark” I hear the interesting bass lines that Bob Sommers plays beneath the ballad, a ballad that wanders restlessly in a rubato mode, giving Varga command of the stage on his vibraphone. Hemphill uses his cymbals to punctuate the piece in surprising places. Speaking of the drummer, I enjoy the groove on “This System of Things” that pushes the tune forward, at first with a rhythm guitar and then a trap drum inspiration. The Vibes slow the arrangement down, like cutting the time.

This quintet really gets into a sweet samba groove on “TMI.”  I am ready for some energy and excitement when this tune pops up. Shades of fusion jazz is spooned into the mix, but once again, the odd meters and mood changes snatch off my dancing shoes and sit me down to listen.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music

You can donate directly through Paypal!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter