Discover the Pulse Album

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Pulse. The beat of the heart, a sense of vitality and continuity, often serving as a metaphor for the way music flows in time. When four musicians gathered to explore what might emerge from their collective artistic curiosities, a new Pulse was born. The Cleveland-based group, Pulse, features Anthony Fuoco on piano, Dustin May on drums, Aidan Plank on acoustic bass, and Brad Wagner on tenor and soprano saxophones. Established in early 2018, their approach celebrates melodic shape, harmonic subtlety, improvisation, and the wide-open soundscapes of the Midwest. Blending elements of jazz, classical, popular, and world music, Pulse invites the listener to explore the depths of emotion and imagination. The group aims to resonate with a broad audience while honoring the legacy of jazz quartets. After nearly six years of rehearsing and performing together, they chose to record a collection of original compositions that represent their shared vision.

This debut recording from Pulse begins and ends with two renditions of Aidan Plank’s composition Pulse. The spacious, soothing atmosphere created in this piece surrounds the other works within the recording with a warm and reflective openness. The lyrical melody of this piece is suspended over a pedal point which eventually evolves into a rich and improvised harmony.

Brad Wagner’s Chronomentrophobia highlights the ensemble's growth in concept and interplay, featuring everyone in collective improvisation. While the song title's definition, the fear of time pieces, plays into the avoidance of strict metronomic time, the piece portrays a dialogue that is both full of beauty and fire.

Plank’s Wheeler Musings is a piece written as a homage to the late trumpeter and composer Kenny Wheeler. The piece calmly emerges from a vamp into the statement of a melody full of expanding themes. In turn, this influences the introspective improvised solos from Plank, Fuoco and Wagner.

Dustin May’s contribution to the recording is evident in the piece Revisited, which, as the title suggests, reinterprets a melody he composed years ago. In it we hear May’s earthy groove on the drums, Plank’s dance on the bass, as well as improvised solos from Wagner, Fuoco, and May. Surprising turns in rhythm and tonality help it deviate from expected forms.

Anthony Fuoco’s Confluence brings together melodies, colors, sections, and textures, evoking feelings of joy and curiosity. The melodic development and counterpoint between the saxophone and piano echo the spirit of Western classical music. Following an exhilarating saxophone improvisation, the piano explores new harmonic ideas, gradually building with the ensemble until the piece returns to its original theme.

Instead of Words was freely composed on video by Wagner in June of 2020 to advocate for all Black lives, while also conveying the inexpressible outrage over the countless individuals impacted by systemic racism and the tragic loss of life at the hands of those sworn to protect us. Arranged for Pulse, here Words begins with Wagner stating the melody as a howling plea on his soprano saxophone. The piece then shifts into an intense waltz, driven by May and Plank, allowing space for Fuoco and Wagner to speak their minds.

Spring Awaits You is a hopeful and uplifting melody by Plank written in a late winter with the thought of brighter and happier days ahead. The piece is both inspired by the European quartet of Keith Jarrett and the vibrant music of Brazil. The piece starts with a beautiful rubato rendition of the melody by pianist Fuoco, followed by a lively statement of the theme, and improvised solos from all four musicians.

Fuoco’s A Year Has Passed explores themes of grief and transformation, unfolding like a story. It starts with a beautiful melody presented by Fuoco and Plank. As the piece progresses, May joins in to introduce a new section, paving the way for Wagner’s tenor saxophone entrance. This dramatic shift highlights the quartet’s emotional approach to ensemble improvisation and collaboration. The piece concludes with the full ensemble revisiting the original theme.

– Pulse

credits

released February 21, 2025

Produced by the members of Pulse

Recorded on August 13, 2023 by David Alan Shaw & Michael Seifert at Suma Recording Studio, Painesville, OH

Mixed and mastered by David Alan Shaw

Cover art by Anthony Fuoco

Photography by Jacqlene May

CD Design by Matt Perko