An album
inspired by the legendary John Coltrane album Live At The Village Vanguard
Again – but a set that takes off in very individual directions, thanks to the
spirit of the players! The group's led by pianist Jamie Saft – who's drawing
strong energy from Alice Coltrane on the record – especially in the way he
effortlessly lays out these dark lines that have a calming presence amidst the
more ferocious horn work from Joe McPhee on alto and tenor – that balance that
both Mr and Mrs Coltrane could share at their best. Joe Morris provides some of
the rounded, most soulful bass we've heard in years – and drums are by Charles
Downs, who easily leaps between free moments and bolder rhythmic progressions.
Titles include "Beyond Days", "Simplicity Of Man",
"Leaves Of Certain", and "A Backward King". ~ Dusty Groove
MICHAEL
DEASE - DECISIONS
Wonderfully
fresh work on trombone from Michael Dease – a player we're liking more and more
with each new release – and who really tops himself with this one! Dease is
schooled in so many older modes – able to blow with the sweetness of JJ Johnson
at times, or the gutbuckety soul of Bennie Green at others – but he's also got
a very contemporary conception on his instrument, with the blend of soul and
modern you'd find on recent albums from trombonist Steve Davis, a labelmate of
Dease. No surprise, Michael starts off the record with a great composition by
Steve – before launching into some even stronger tunes of his own – fitted
perfectly with a group that includes Tim Green on tenor, Glenn Zaleski on
piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, and Ulysses Owen on drums. Titles include
"Decisions", "Gorgeous Gwen", "Grove's Groove",
"Jason's Gonna Get Ya", "Trayvon", and "Three &
One". ~ Dusty Groove
TOM HARRELL –
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Stunning
work from trumpeter Tom Harrell – a player who's been making records for
decades, but who really seems to be hitting a creative high point in his great
flurry of recent albums! This sparkling set is one of Harrell's best of the
bunch – a set that's got Tom blowing in these richly colorful extrapolations on
themes from Debussy and Ravel, but turned inside-out so that there's no
classicism at all – just the best use of musical ideas from the composers,
which Harrell then takes into these jazzy patterns that are really wonderful –
delivered gently on his own trumpet and flugelhorn, in a group that features
flute from Charles Pillow, soprano and tenor from Wayne Escoffery, and piano
from Danny Grissett! The group also adds in a violin and cello – but used in
very un-classical ways that are extremely haunting – and Tom also works with a
few of his own compositions as well. Wonderful stuff – with titles that include
"Reverie", "Beau Soir", "Perspectives",
"Musique Du Cafe", "Sarabande", and "Voices". ~ Dusty Groove
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