Wide View

Album Review

Wide View is Jeff Greinke's first solo CD after a three-year hiatus. Greinke, ever the consummate professional, has an excellent sense of timing, so listeners can be certain that he got exactly the sound that he wanted. He is also known for his dark ambience. This CD is not as morbid as some of his work, but it is dark. It starts with mere melancholy, and the blues get progressively darker as the atmospheres unfold and spread out. The dirges are the primary drivers. The drones are not overt; Greinke does not use traditional e-music techniques to construct his grays and blues. He uses melodies, an acoustic piano, and atmospheres with, well, a wide view. That is what drives this melancholia. Greinke encourages his listeners to inspect it from all angles before passing judgment. This disc is good for repeated listening. That way, listeners will get every nuance. The disc will appeal to fans of Jeff Pearce, James Johnson, Robert Scott Thompson, and Brannan Lane.