Rale Micic - Night Music (2016)

Last we heard from tasty Serbian-born guitar player Rale Micic (pronounced Rah-lay Mee-cheech) he had recorded the sweet trio disc “3.” The work vaulted him to prominence, and he enjoyed enthusiastic followers at prestigious gigs. On his fourth disc as bandleader, Rale looks closer to home for his inspiration. The sublime new Night Music is a re-imagining of the work of Hungarian composer Bela Bartok. Helped in his vision mission by Jonathan Blake and his adrenalized drum ‘n’ bass pulse, Corcoran Holt’s heavy groove on upright bass, and Danny Grissett’s Fender Rhodes, all of which provide an evocative and colorful bed for Micic’s flowing single note lines and double-time flurries. While Bartok fused Hungarian folk music with more a tradition-al classical essence to create work of incredible national pride, Micic attempts to do something similar by creating a blend of ethnic tinged playing and more conventional jazz. Bartok lived his last few years in New York City, near Micic’s home in Riverdale, where he transcribed Serbian folk music at Columbia University. Motivated by the inspiration and closeness he felt to the spirit of Bartok, Micic created Night Music, a heartfelt tribute of extraordinary beauty, and an immense accomplishment from an imposing talent.