It’s never easy to write about an instrumental album like Jon Wirtz’s “Sea Level” especially when all you get to remark upon is the man himself and his piano. Not that he stumbles – for he doesn’t – but what do you say about his admittedly elegant music meanderings that might express what the music made you feel.
Certainly, his technical playing ability is not in question and his own compositions evoke many of the modern jazz luminaries like Dave Grusin and he manages, for the most part, to avoid sounding like a series of soundtrack cues. The key thing, however, is that this album maintains your attention and doesn’t drift off into the background.
I have to admit that this kind of music isn’t really my cup of tea but I reckon that Jon Wirtz does just fine here.
Available from Bandcamp.