Downhill From Here (La Reserve)
Gilad Hekselman
Released January 2025
DownBeat Four-and-a-Half-Star Review
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About:
On his new trio album, Downhill From Here, guitarist Gilad Hekselman keeps his longest-running creative partner close while opening the door to a new heavyweight voice.
Drummer Marcus Gilmore, first heard alongside Hekselman on Words Unspoken (2008) and a near-constant ally ever since, returns to provide the kinetic spark that the guitarist says “feels the most like home.” Joining them for the first time is bassist Larry Grenadier, the lyrical anchor of Brad Mehldau’s trail-blazing trio, co-founder of the collective FLY, and an ECM solo artist in his own right.
Together, the three carve out a space where longtime chemistry meets first-take discovery. This commensurately applies to originals like Hekselman’s gently rolling ‘Navand’ and needling ‘Scovill’, as well as Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s ‘Alfie’ and Nachum Heiman’s ‘Like a Wildflower’, an Israeli folk song popularized by Chavqa Alberstein.
Track Listing:
1. Downhill from Here 05:52
2. Navanad 07:14
3. Be Brave 05:54
4. Alfie 03:50
5. Wise Man 05:28
6. Seeing You 06:36
7. Scoville 05:37
8. Like A Wildflower 03:30
All compositions by Gilad Hekselman
Personnel:
Gilad Hekselman: guitar
Larry Grenadier: bass
Marcus Gilmore: drums
Sound engineer: James Farber
Mix & Master: Dave Darlington at Two Bass Hit
Cover design by Gilad Hekselman & Loin Yancha
Cover photo by Simon Yu
Produced by Gilad Hekselman
Review:
The Israeli-born, New York-based guitarist finds himself in regal company on his 12th album as a leader. Alongside veteran bassist Larry Grenadier and the remarkably gifted drummer Marcus Gilmore, the trio tackles a program of six Hekselman originals, one dreamy Burt Bacharach cover (“Alfie”) and a moving rubato take on a beloved Israeli folk classic (Nachum Heiman’s “Like A Wildflower”). Hekselman’s intimate style often has him playing with low dynamics, a delicate touch and a refined clarity of tone. But on the adventurous title track, he comes out of the gate with an array of tantalizing echo and looping effects to set a surreal mood behind Gilmore’s surging undercurrent and Grenadier’s fundamental bass pulse. The guitarist wails with abandon on this free-jazz swinger as things heat up midway through. T he gentle ballad “Navand” effectively combines acoustic and electric guitars as Gilmore sets a more delicate dynamic with sensitive brushwork. Grenadier’s resonant bass solo here is particularly striking while the leader’s f lowing, lyrical approach on that tune and “Be Brave” are in the Pat Metheny camp. Gilmore’s tour de force polyrhythmic whirlwind at the end of the latter tune shows why he is so highly regarded by bandleaders like Metheny, Vijay Iyer, Sullivan Fortner and Lakecia Benjamin. Turning unapologetically aggressive, Hekselman cranks on the distortion/compression pedal on “Wise Man,” which stands as another incredibly interactive drumming showcase for Gilmore. The guitarist also reprises “Scoville,” his earthy tribute to role model John Scofield, which appeared on 2020’s Trio Grande.
Bill Milkowski (DownBeat)
