NPR features Greg Ward’s ‘Stomping Off From Greenwood’
Greg Ward’s new album, Stomping Off From Greenwood, was featured on NPR’s flagship show, All Things Considered. In her thoughtful piece, Michelle Mercer calls the album, “one of the year’s first great jazz albums.” She goes on to say:
We hear a deep rapport on this album. Ward’s band, Rogue Parade, has the classic jazz instrumentation of upright bass and drums, but uniquely it also has two guitarists. These guitarists have distinct voices and use pedal effects musically, so they can contrast styles and moods, broadening the sound into a panorama. Ward’s own saxophone is so richly integrated into this band that it feels like it was born there.
They also take on a classic jazz tune, but in an unusual way. On the Hoagy Carmichael standard “Stardust,” the musicians manage to tell a story with just fragments of the melody. Rogue Parade’s version of “Stardust” feels like a walk home from a great last date, the street still glimmering with what’s been lost.
This album welcomes everyone to hear their own impressions of the music. Ward’s Stomping Off From Greenwood has all the excellence of modern jazz without a hint of the grandiosity. You can make your imagination at home here.
Listen to the full piece here. The album is available on Bandcamp, iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.
