Teymur Phell Master Volume

Teymur Phell
Master Volume
Self-produced

Teymur Phell was born in Baku, Azerbaijan in 1987, and began playing the bass guitar when he was 13. He graduated high school when 18 and continued his studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music, studying classical upright bass with maestro Michael Klinghoffer. He came to New York in 2011, built his reputation as a vibrant and virtuosic player and has become a sought-after bassist, performing with artists such as Danielia Cotton, Alex Young, Leni Stern, Lafayette Harris, and landing major gigs with jazz greats such as Mike Stern and Arturo Sandoval. On this debut recording he is joined by varying musicians including Nitzan Gavrieli on piano and keyboards; Lionel Cordew on drums; Chad Lefkowitz Brown on tenor sax;/ Mike Stern on guitar; Dennis Chambers on drums; Daniel Sadownick on percussion; Itai Kriss on flute; Albert Leusink on trumpet; Brian Bonvissuto; on trombone; and Wisam Khoury on Darbuka.

Phell is a virtuoso on the electric bass (he also plays keyboards) that is demonstrated throughout starting on "Zero To Sixty." This composition is evocative of Weather Report, and Phell's remarkable playing suggests he is quite familiar with Jaco Pastorious. Brown plays quite energetically here. A similar hot, fusion mood is present on "Papano Kimono," with a propulsive, highly charged solos by Mike Stern and Brown. Dennis Chambers on drums helps provide the funk groove. The title track is a spirited funk performance with shifting time. Gavrieli is particularly impressive on this number. Itai Kriss' flute is spotlighted against riffing horns on "Worth the Wait" with its Latin tine, A solo bass performances, "Old Window," displays the underlying lyrical quality to his playing. "Unfinished Business" is another funky performance with Stern and Chambers joining Phell and Gavrieli, with a dazzling solo by Phell.

After a virtuosic bass solo, "Heyvanhana," the final three numbers are trio performances with pianist Gavrieli and drummer Cordew. Starting as a duet by Phell and Cordew, "Sweet Sweep" develops into a vibrant, bouncy track. It is followed by the more reflective, melodic "Chances Are," with Phell playing as if he was playing a guitar. The closing tune is the bop-flavored "Blues For Who?" where all three solos. Teymur Phell shows himself to be not only a superb electric bass player but also a composer of merit. The excellent playing and varied compositions make "Master Volume" a very engaging recording.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here is Teymur Phell with Mike Stern performing John Coltrane's"Mr. P.C."