January/February 2007

Kris Davis
The Slightest Shift
Fresh Sound New Talent

By Forrest Dylan Bryant

Kris Davis’ quartet wastes no time on her second CD. Digging through eight of the pianist’s turbulent, open-structured pieces in a crisp 40 minutes, they slide readily into collective groans, finger-snapping Monk-ish walks and tumbled heaps of crossed melodic lines. Davis’ compositions are carefully drawn but explosive. As she slices through expressive tangles of notes, tenor saxophonist Tony Malaby spars with Eivind Opsvik’s bass and Jeff Davis’ colorful drumming, making for a spirited four-way conversation.