Craig Taborn - Dream Archives (2026)

I can hear the intelligence immediately, but I struggle to stay engaged all the way through. Dream Archives is carefully played, beautifully recorded, and clearly the product of a very disciplined musical mind — yet it feels more like an exercise in control than a space I want to inhabit. The improvisations drift and resolve quietly, often stopping just before they risk something emotionally. I respect the restraint, but I miss friction, danger, or even a stronger sense of arrival. It’s thoughtful music, but it rarely becomes involving.

Pros

1. Impeccable pianistic touch – Tone, dynamics, and voicing are handled with absolute mastery.

2. Clear intent and coherence – Even at its most abstract, the improvisation feels directed, not random.

3. Excellent use of space and silence – Decay and resonance are treated as compositional tools.

Cons

1. Low emotional exposure – The music stays cool and cerebral, rarely opening up.

2. Minimal tension–release – Pieces hover rather than build, which flattens the listening arc.

3. Limited replay pull – Once the language is understood, little compels repeated listens.

Genre: Avant-Garde Jazz
Country: US

Final Verdict: 63% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 32th / 56

Highlight: Feeding Maps to the Fire

Made me think of:
Paul Bley
Vijay Iyer
Fred Hersch

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