review: Unraveler by Ella Zirina (2023)

Strumming, palm muting, rapid tremolo and ambient effects - jazz guitar doesn’t immediately spring to mind when considering the above, but on her second album Unraveler, Latvian guitarist Ella Zirina employs all of these devices on a solo record that sits well within the jazz tradition whilst also giving it a good nudge forward. With titles such as “Etude Trills”, Zirina seems to be sharing with us a set of tunes borne of the practice room, but the music delivers much more than mere studies – fluttering melodies, explorations of timbre and shimmering textures all combine for a beautiful listening experience that highlights Zirina as an important emerging composer and improviser.   

With two records dropping in 2023, Unraveler follows on from Zirina’s debut release Intertwined, and judging by the album titles there are some common themes at play across both releases - the standard “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing” even appears on both albums. For the solo version of the Stayhorn ballad, we are presented with some pillars of Zirina’s sound; a dark sibilant tone, cascading arpeggiated passages, themes emerging from above and below the dominant texture, and a strong melodic voice expanded upon by intricate ornamentation. There is also a strength to the articulation that is particularly noticeable both in single note lines, and in moments when bursts of rapid palm muted harmony interject across the record.

As a graduate of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Zirina brings not only her own individual style to the music, but also sounds and language unique to players connected to the Dutch jazz guitar tradition. There is something common to guitarists that have developed their craft in the Netherlands; strong articulation and single note bounce paired with the ability to adapt all facets of the guitar for use in diverse settings all feature. Of particular note is the use of open strings and strumming in swinging settings - an approach prevalent in the playing of artists such as Jesse van Ruller, Martijn van Iterson and Maarten van der Grinten (all of whom studied under Wim Overgaauw back in the day and have since been developing an impressive roster of graduates for some years at the CvA). The newer generation of players such as Reinier Baas (a tutor of Zirina) and Ella herself are pushing things even further by incorporating elements from various rock, indie and neo-soul styles.

Unraveler presents us with a set of tunes that each sit within particular sound worlds, honing in on specific textures, sounds, and general vibes for each track. If Intertwined presented us with Zirina’s voice enmeshed within an ensemble context, then Unraveler allows us to hear a highly individual voice in a more focused setting, where ideas are unpicked to their fullest. At the midpoint of “Etude 7ths” a punched-in overdriven guitar soars above some dense chordal figures on the track, typifying what is most exciting about this music; unique ideas that expand on the potentials of the instrument itself, a language that blurs the line between improvisation and composition, and an ability to create soundscapes full of energy and atmosphere.

- review by paul simmons

Unraveler by Ella Zirina

RELEASED: 2023

LABEL: Independant

STREAM: Spotify / Apple Music 

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