Deer Wan cover

Deer Wan

Kenny Wheeler · 1978

43 min · 4 tracks · jazz

A mesmerizing blend of avant-garde textures and chamber jazz intricacies, weaving together improvisation and structured melodies.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Peace for Five — This expansive track features intricate interplay between musicians, showcasing Wheeler's ability to balance structure and spontaneity while allowing each musician to shine individually.
  • →
    Deer Wan — The title track encapsulates Wheeler's unique compositional style, blending lyrical trumpet lines with rich harmonic textures that challenge conventional jazz forms.
  • →
    3/4 in the Afternoon — This piece stands out for its playful rhythmic shifts and melodic exploration, illustrating Wheeler's knack for crafting engaging narratives within his compositions.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
65 /100
Treeline
Higher than 88% of albums we've rated

This album showcases strong compositional elements and distinct improvisation within chamber jazz.

What we noticed

  • Each piece varies in tempo and mood, with 'Peace for Five' starting softly before building complexity, while '3/4 in the Afternoon' maintains a steady rhythm throughout.
  • The final track, 'Deer Wan', incorporates extended techniques and dissonance, creating a contrasting atmosphere compared to the earlier tracks.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Peace for Five 16:27
  • 2 3/4 in the Afternoon 5:50
  • 3 Sumother Song 11:25
  • 4 Deer Wan 10:04

What to play next

Around 6
Listen next

Around 6

1980
Gnu High
Go back to

Gnu High

1975
Full Kenny Wheeler discography Artists like Kenny Wheeler
avant-garde jazz chamber jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata