The Word

SSC1764 2025-01-17

Track List

Sheep Wash - 6:43
Wormcast - 5:57
The Word - 5:18
Purusha - 4:52
Groove for Clyde - 5:35
K.I. (Kaida Inspired) - 4:37
Ektaal - 5:22
Lord and Master - 6:44
Dattatreya - 6:29
Maybe - 5:44

Musicians

Davy Mooney - guitar
John Ellis - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet
Matt Clohesy - bass
Glenn Zaleski - piano
Ko Omura - drums, tabla

The world of jazz music has become an ideal place for collaborations between musicians from different lands and cultures. The practices of songwriting and improvisation reach beyond barriers of different languages. Guitarist Davy Mooney has long embraced having a global community in music, finding musical homes in Brazil and Japan. It was in Japan where he met a favorite musical foil, drummer Ko Omura.

After his first Sunnyside release over a decade ago, Mooney looked to expand his touring horizons by looking toward Japan. Omura was recommended by a friend and joined the guitarist on his tour. The duo formed a tight bond and began a musical partnership, which led to their 2018 recording, Benign Strangers. Though the pandemic slowed their work together, the two made sure to keep the spirit alive, capturing it on their new recording, The Word.

Mooney and Omura’s kinship formed around a balancing of contrasting styles. Mooney’s music is often darker and highly structured, while Omura’s compositions are warm and freely played. Omura’s music is inspired much by his study of Indian music and the tabla. Both musicians are highly adept melodists, writing singable tunes that pull listeners in. Programming their music together provides a perfect complement of styles.

When Mooney and Omura were finally able to reconvene, they brought together the same ensemble of brilliant musicians that they featured on Benign Strangers. Woodwind master John Ellis returns with his array of saxophones and clarinets. Pianist Glenn Zaleski and bassist Matt Clohesy are perfect in their reading and response to the varied program.

The Word provides a glimpse at where the band has evolved. The shared leader duties between Mooney and Omura allowed for an easier process in writing and recording. With that, the quintet returned to Big Orange Sheep for one of the beloved recording studio’s last sessions in June of 2024.