One of the most hard-hitting albums ever cut by pianist Georges Arvanitas – an early effort that's all soul jazz all the way through! Although Arvanitas is best known as a committed modernist, especially in later years, this sweet early 60s session is a stone cooker in the best mode of Blue Note dates of the time – tight, swinging, and perfectly poised with just the right space for some excellent solos from Francois Jeanneau on tenor, Bernard Vitet on trumpet, and Arvanitas himself on piano – all grooving in a style that would make the Jazz Messengers proud, but also one that's got some key touches of postwar Parisian jazz too. Bass is by Michel Gaudry and drums are by Daniel Humair – and titles include "Oblivion", "This Here", "Poco Loco", "Bouncin With Bud", "Bohemia After Dark", and "Mister X".
Ronnie Cuber in a bebop mode – one that works perfectly, given his always-fluid touch on the baritone sax! The group's a quartet – with Michael Wolff on piano, Cameron Brown on bass, and Johnathan Blake on drums – and the main focus is on Ronnie's deft solos, blown across a host of classics from the days of Diz and Bird! Titles include "Ow", "Quasimodo", "Cheryl", "Boplicity", "Now's The Time", "Night In Tunisia", and "My Little Suede Shoes".
Beautiful recent work from Italian guitarist Franco Cerri – and a set that really expands upon that great sound he developed in the 70s! Right at the start, Cerri was already one of the best jazz guitarists on the European scene – but as the 70s moved on, he developed this wonderfully subtle style of using his instrument – one that was often incredibly soft on the attack of the notes, yet still managed to swing strongly – in ways that, because of the groove, were different than guitar styles that were budding up north with the ECM scene – almost as if he was quickly shifting together waves of sound with deft ease. This album brings that sound into focus nicely with a strong group of younger artists – including vocalists on a few tunes, who give things a bit of a bossa touch, too. Titles include "Foxology", "Leggenda", "Racconto", "Stazione Termini", "Fly", "Giovia", "Cerrimedio", "Il Blues Dei Framasteni", and "Nannerl".
Dusty Groove
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