Nextbop

The Next Generation of Jazz

  • Home
  • Blog
    • Newest Posts
    • Streams & Videos
    • Reviews
    • Interviews
  • New Releases
  • Best Of Lists
    • Best of 2019
    • Best of 2018
    • Best of 2017
    • Best of 2016
    • Best of 2015
    • Best of 2014
    • Best of 2013
    • Best of 2012
    • Best of 2011
    • Best of 2010
  • Advertising Rates
  • About
  • Contact Us
Home / Blog / Reviews / Dan Meinhardt’s Outset – ‘Outset’

Dan Meinhardt’s Outset – ‘Outset’

August 9, 2016 By Alex Marianyi

ShareTweetSubscribe

Subscribe to our mailing list and receive our most read content directly to your inbox every month!*

* indicates required
*By subscribing, you agree to receive our monthly newsletter as well as sporadic promotional emails. Feel free to unsubscribe at any time!

Dan Meinhardt’s Outset finds themselves in some unexpected territory on their eponymous release, as they reinvigorate the musical principles that made jazz great a hundred years ago without sounding dated or necrophilic. Swinging lusciously, grooving intently, and spinning melodies throughout, this quartet of young Chicago musicians creates a shockingly raw and vulnerable display of everything that makes this group what it is and none of what it isn’t.

Though each song has a luxurious fullness, the sonic quality remains clean and spacious in their freedom from a piano or guitar. In fact, this setup allows Meinhardt on saxophone, Justin Copeland on trumpet, and Tim Ipsen on bass to create fresh harmonies out of their intertwining melodies. Add in Andrew Green on drums, and this grouping of instruments lends itself to Meinhardt’s characteristic less-is-more approach to all things.

The opening track “Gooby” hops and skips along a blues in a second-line-esque manner and really sets the tone for the rest of the record. There’s no attempt to hide influences but instead a serious commitment to making these tunes groove and pulse with excitement and intent. They push “Dropped” into punk-funk, breakdown “Something Mellow” (paradoxically) like a great death metal track, and lay way back into “Wayneish”. Be sure to check out Meinhardt and Copeland take a backseat to Green’s scintillating drum solo on “Points For Trying”.

Whether you want to listen to modern jazz juxtaposed against the music’s history or just hang out and relax with some tunes, Outset on repeat is recommended. Every phrase, every rhythm is carefully crafted for the listener, but it never loses its sense of humor or ability to entertain. This is serious music that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Dan Meinhardt’s Outset will release its self-titled album on August 26th, 2016 on ears&eyes Records. You can catch them tonight (8/9) in Chicago, IL at California Clipper or when they release the album in Chicago at Constellation.

Liked the post? Take a second to support Nextbop on Patreon!

Filed Under: Blog, Reviews Tagged With: Andrew Green, Dan Meinhardt, Dan Meinhardt's Outset, ears&eyes, Justin Copeland, Outset, Tim Ipsen

Follow Us


6,871
followers

9,720
followers

1,182
followers

Monthly Newsletter

Get our 5 most-read posts and a list of brand new jazz albums sent directly to your inbox every month!


Support Nextbop on Patreon

Top Posts

  • Rob Shepherd Favorite Jazz Albums Decade Rob Shepherd’s Favorite Jazz Albums of the Decade
  • Best Jazz Albums 2019 Nextbop’s Best Jazz Albums of 2019
  • Nardis: A Critical Analysis of Covers
  • The Pitchfork of Jazz
  • Binker and Moses – ‘Alive in the East?’ (Album Review)

Tags

Aaron Parks A Critical Analysis of Covers BADBADNOTGOOD Ben Wendel Ben Williams Biophilia Blue Note Brad Mehldau Brainfeeder Braxton Cook Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah Concord Corey Fonville Derrick Hodge ECM Edition Gerald Clayton Gilad Hekselman Greenleaf International Anthem Jason Lindner Joel Ross Justin Brown Kassa Overall Kendrick Scott Lawrence Fields Linda May Han Oh Makaya McCraven Mark Guiliana Matthew Stevens Motéma Nate Wood Nonesuch Phronesis Pi Robert Glasper Ropeadope Sarah Elizabeth Charles Stephan Crump Stretch Music Sunnyside Taylor Eigsti Thundercat Vijay Iyer Whirlwind
© 2021 Nextbop. All rights reserved.
Use of any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Policy.