“The golden lock teaches us to snap it open,” writes Travis Laplante, referencing Ma Dayang’s 12th century Taoist ode 12 Points Shining Bright as the Starry Sky and Able to Heal All the Many Diseases, in which odes, songs and acupuncture are part of the same intermingled treatment. The writing began on an artists’ retreat, where Laplante felt a new compositional freedom, evident in the relaxed tone of the seven-part piece.
The album unashamedly says what it needs to say, without a lot of adornment or mucking around, whether the spacious opening chords of the first movement or the improvised free arpeggios that close the second. The melodies of some sections – the third, fourth or seventh movements for example – might work as stadium rock if seen in a different context, demonstrating a remarkable flexibility.
The musical language is modern European jazz, the kind that would sit well alongside composers like Lars Danielsson, with a balance of scored melodic sections and freer, improvised elements. This modal chamber jazz is an enjoyable contrast to Laplante’s more raw saxophone sound, often reminiscent of later Coltrane recordings. The mood is one of open innocence, a grounded confidence of emotions plainly stated and earned. Laplante lets himself be joyful, mournful, exploratory, and reflective, without letting any of those emotions overwhelm the whole.
The composer is joined by a strong ensemble of piano, harp, bass and percussion, each of which get a chance to shine in their own solo sections, adding depth and colour to the album’s emotional statements. Charles Overton’s harp is particularly notable, often playing an understated rhythm guitar role. But in the opening of the fourth movement, the harp appears with a glissando whoosh, making a declarative entrance. Eduardo Leandro’s percussion encompasses some carefully placed stretches on vibes and djembe, as well as more straightforward kit passages.
The Golden Lock is considered, elegant, and extremely well-played. Might it be able to heal all diseases? Perhaps not, but it does lift the spirits, and as such is worth snapping open. (Richard Walley)
a closer listen 