Take Solace in the Folk-Inspired Jazz of A Small Patch of Earth by Paul Dietrich’s Elemental Quartet
Paul Dietrich‘s fifth album as a leader, A Small Patch of Earth, features his smallest ensemble to date. Following two quintet albums in 2014 and 2017, a full-size 18-piece jazz ensemble in 2019’s Forward, and a nine-piece quintet-plus-string-quartet in 2023’s 5+4 (also on Shifting Paradigm), Dietrich sought to return to basics. This led to the creation of his Elemental Quartet, which embraces a more intimate sound inspired by folk music and simpler musical forms, emphasizing interaction and improvisation over the structured nature of his recent large-ensemble work.
To bring this vision to life, Dietrich collaborated with three longtime friends. Guitarist Matt Gold, with his diverse musical background and experience across various styles, was the ideal choice for this project. Dietrich and bassist Brian Courage have been making music together since their college days in 2007. Drummer Devin Drobka, known for his thoughtful and interactive drumming, contributed a mindset that set a collaborative tone for the group.
Each of Dietrich’s nine original compositions on A Small Patch of Earth draws inspiration from the natural world and was recorded not in a studio, but in a concert hall, allowing the music to breathe. Tracks like “Dust” and “Like a Company of Ghosts” (inspired by a grove of birch trees) follow a basic lead-sheet format, which is uncommon in Dietrich’s work, encouraging the band to imprint their personalities on the music. “Gray,” the oldest composition on the album, serves as a slow, muted reflection on the depths of winter.
Dietrich’s modern jazz background shines through in “Slide” and the title track, “A Small Patch of Earth,” both of which incorporate the longer forms characteristic of his previous work, infused with a folk-inspired twist. “With a Chance of Rain” exemplifies the album’s meditative undertones, while “Dry County,” a lively, Frisellian folk-rock romp, adds a fun exclamation point to the collection.
“Confluence” and “Galaxies” allow the band to explore a freer musical landscape, with Drobka taking the lead on “Confluence,” a piece that flows like the undercurrents of adjacent bodies of water. “Galaxies” features a short, repetitive melody and serves as a reflective coda for the album, contemplating our insignificant place in a vast universe.
This album showcases music created by a genuine band that has played together for several years, resulting in a deep comfort and connection among its members. It offers a response to the complexity and pace of the modern world—music meant for taking a deep breath and finding solace.