Clarity is guitarist Jonathan Kirschner’s debut record. It is a showcase of Jonathan’s original compositions, as well as a snapshot of his playing in the context of a trio. Each of the compositions demonstrates a different aspect of Jonathan’s compositional voice and reflects his diverse musical inspirations and goals as a player. This variety of style and influence defies easy categorization, making it difficult to label Jonathan’s music. Is Clarity a traditional jazz trio record? A modern compositional showcase? A jazz-rock fusion project? Yes and no. These elements together are what make Jonathan’s sound.

The title track “Clarity” was written in 2023, originally on the piano, as a simple figure using 9th chord voicings. The 5/4 rhythm transformed what was created as an exercise into a composition.

“A Roll Of The Dice”, the oldest tune on the record, was written in 2019 with a 12-tone row generating technique. Using a 12-sided die, the opening notes E, B, and D led to the completed tune.

Blending the traditional and the contemporary, “Electroluminescence” is a minor blues with a 28-bar form. The tune was named for the views between New York City and New Jersey just after dusk, when daylight is gone and a bright Electroluminescence takes its place.

“Summer Storm” was composed during an apocalyptically rainy week in July of 2023. The opening riff takes a cliched guitar pattern into 7/4 time, and uses a random octave delay effect to recreate the sound of raindrops.

The first four chords of “Nutmeg And Cloves” were composed while playing softly on a nylon string guitar late at night, in an effort to avoid disturbing the neighbors. The title references baking spices, fitting for the song’s subtle holiday feel.

“Fire Salamander” was one of the most challenging compositions on the record. Despite its simple and repetitive chord structure, it took months of reading sessions with many different musicians, and was even rescued from the digital garbage can, before taking its final shape as an unusual AABBCA form. The development of this tune was the driving force and conceptual beginning of the entire album project.

The only solo piece on the record, Thelonious Monk’s “Reflections” is a tribute to Jonathan’s favorite composer. The version of the tune from the record “Thelonious Alone In San Francisco” was a key inspiration to even include a solo guitar piece on the album. This song also was played on Kurt Rosenwinkel’s “Reflections”, a modern guitar trio record that greatly inspired the sound and feel of “Clarity”.

“Yellow Card” is the closing song on “Clarity”. The A section of the song was composed in about 45 minutes while distractedly watching a soccer game. Its frenetic energy is a show-stopping conclusion to the album.