The New Jersey Star Ledger
Sunday April 2nd, 2006

Ari Roland / Sketches From A Bassist's Album
BY ZAN STEWART

Roland is a most dynamic New York City-based artist -- he plays with such groups as Across 7 Street -- who should be better known. Perhaps this solid debut will help. Seven of the 10 selections are his; he offers engaging if occasionally knotty themes that move between warmth and occasional subtle dissonance over bebop-bent harmonies and fluid swing. The solos by the leader, tenorman Chris Byars, and pianist Sacha Perry each have pull, as the musicians -- Phil Stewart is the crisp drummer -- work with robust sounds, and keen melodic and rhythmic conception. "The Lion of Yerevan" boasts one of several fine arco improvs by Roland, "Mensch Blues" another. Like the master Paul Chambers, he bows with a resonant, expansive tone, and delivers solid packages full of choice notes. One of the covers is the races-along "Mo's On," a rhythm-changes ride by bop great Elmo Hope. A deft ballad is the leader's "Replaceable Me," with some resemblance to "Embraceable You."

--Zan Stewart