JOEL JESCHKE

TIME & PLACE

Independent Label

Joel Jeschke, drums/composer; Aretha Tillotson, bass; Brendan McGrath, piano; Brett Hansen, guitar; Holly Sangster, tenor saxophone.

Joel Jeschke is a drummer and composer who states in his liner notes:

“This is the culmination of many years of experimentation, exploration and practice. … This album is a collection of pieces dedicated to meaningful times and places in my life that have had immense impact on me as both a person and musician.”

They open with a one-minute introduction. There’s a floodlight on the drummer and Joel Jeschke does not disappoint.  He demands the attention and displays his technique during one minute and twenty-four seconds, playing solo. It’s as if he’s calling the king’s court to order like the Chief of the Curia Regis. An original composition called “Koskela” follows. It features Brendan McGrath on piano and is quite experimental in sound and arrangement.

Joel Jeschke is a sought-after drummer on both the jazz and the rock scene.  Towards the end of this “Kosakela” arrangement, repetitious piano chords create a springboard for Jeschke to showcase a drum solo. He propels this song forward with gusto. The contemporary jazz tune titled “Nuuksio” represents a hiking adventure in a national Helsinki, Finland park, where Joel and two friends got lost.  Consequently, they had to hitch-hike back to town when they missed the last shuttle service.

Jeschke played in metal rock bands as a teen.  When he wrote “The Number Twelve” he was thinking about those days, and the influence that music has had on his current career. Today, It’s a blend of metal and jazz in a funk-sort-of-way. Brett Hansen’s guitar plays a major role in this arrangement.

Jeschke’s composition, “Aviary” invites female saxophonist Holly Sangster into the mix.  She and bassist Aretha Tillotson let their instruments sing in unison at the top of the tune.  Then Tillotson transitions to a smooth double bass solo adventure. It showcases her musical talents.

“Time & Place” is a debut album from this exciting Canadian drummer and composer, along with his youthful, musical bandmembers. Together, they offer tunes that encourage experimentation, with a mixture of metal, rock, pop and jazz. Joel Jeschke is a powerful percussionist and bandleader. He draws the best out of his ensemble members. They stand together strong, sweet, and organic, like pulling syrup from Canada’s famed Maple trees.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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