On ‘Deconstruction,’ Duval Jazz Group Andre Gruber Trio Builds On, and Breaks Away, from Traditionalism

The recent full-length album from the Andre Gruber Trio, Deconstruction is a set of nine songs with enough performance detours and unexpected turns to keep it from heading one way into straightforward traditionalism.

Taking its aesthetic cues from the ethereal tones of mid-1960s modal jazz, the opening cut “Back and Forth” features the trio of Gruber (guitar), Thomas Milovac (bass) and Ben Shorstein (drums) joined by pianist Andrew Smiley, slowly sketching out the composition’s minor-key, contemplative theme. The airiness of the intro, where the band gently gives form to the music, is then rolled into equally casual solos from Gruber, Smiley and Milovac. The band’s prowess is certain. Yet over the nearly-eight-minutes of “Back and Forth” the ensemble seems more intent on reconfiguring the song with cerebral renderings, rather than resign themselves to jazz-school shredding; all moving as one in lieu of spotlighted soloing.

Deconstruction is the latest release from Madra Vaca, a label-collective that includes drummer Shorstein as a guiding force, and is an imprint that is one of the more interesting local labels, one that releases jazz-leaning music with a quixotic and eclectic sensibility and explores the parameters of jazz. As a self-described “polymath guitarist, visual artist and armchair philosopher,” Andre Gruber is a card-carrying member of the Madra Vaca avant-cartel. 

“Back and Forth” is streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify and YouTube. You can follow the Andre Gruber Trio and Madra Vaca on Instagram. Check out Madre Vaca Records full discography here.

All songs featured in our Local Spotlight series can be found on our Fresh Squeeze Playlist and in rotation (at 20-minutes after the hour) on our music discovery radio station, The Independent.