CHRIS BYARS - THE MUSIC OF DUKE JORDAN
The music
of Duke Jordan, but in a really fresh setting – handled here by altoist Chris
Byars, who's brought together a compelling lineup for the set! Many of these
tracks are numbers you'll either know as bop standards, or from Jordan's trio
recordings – but the approach here is quite inventive, and makes the record way
more than just a tribute – in the creative style of Byars' previous projects
dedicated to Gigi Gryce or Lucky Thompson. Chris opens up the tunes with
instrumentation that includes bass clarinet from Stefano Doglioni, trombone
from John Mosca, and guitar from Pasquale Grasso – as well as vocals from
singer Yaala Ballin, who composed lyrics for two Jordan tracks – "If I Did
Would You" and "Lesson In Love" – which are nestled nicely next
to instrumentals that include "Jordanish", "Undecided Lady",
"There's A Star For You", "Glad I Met Pat", and "The
Bullet". ~ Dusty Groove
MICHAEL COCHRANE - DISCOVERY
Wonderfully
warm work from the great Michael Cochrane – a pianist we always love, and who
also seems to be playing a bit of Fender Rhodes on this album too! The
instrument's not credited on the back, but turns up in an excellent version of
Denny Zeitlin's "Quiet Now" – which is handled by Cochrane with just
the right sort of space and tone to really open up the composition – in a way
that's very different from the bolder, more soulful tones the pianist uses
throughout the rest of the album. As always with a record from Michael, the
original tunes are some of the best – and include "Discovery",
"MC's Bossa", "Erie Blues", and "Fantasy" – all
the kind of numbers that always have us digging for his records whenever we get
the chance. Other tunes include "Oblivion", "Yesterdays",
and "Visitation" – and the trio includes Daryl Johns on bass and
Steve Johns on drums. ~ Dusty
Groove
BERNARD PURDIE - PURDIE GOOD!
Bernard
Purdie's first album as a leader for Prestige – cut right after he'd hipped up
plenty of other sessions for the label with his famous funky drums! The groove
here is very much in the best Prestige jazz funk mode of the early 70s –
tightly vamping rhythms that draw heavily from Purdie's monstrous drums – and
which also offer solo showcase space for Harold Wheeler on electric piano, Ted
Dunbar on guitar, Tippy Larkin on trumpet, and Charlie Brown and Warren Daniels
on tenor. Rhythm is augmented by Gordon Edwards on Fender bass and Norman Pride
on congas – and the grooves hit a variety of modes that show that Purdie could
sometimes be a more open-thinking rhythmatist than his funky contemporary Idris
Muhammad. Titles include great instrumental versions of "Cold Sweat"
and "Montego Bay", plus the originals "Wasteland",
"You Turn Me On", and "Purdie Good". ~ Dusty Groove
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