BRUCE HARRIS - BEGINNINGS
The debut album from Bruce Harris – a tight trumpeter that
we'll certainly be hearing from in years to come, working here with an all-star
group of musicians that really help the leader shine! The core group is a
quartet – with Michael Weiss on piano, Clovis Nicolas on bass, and Pete Van
Nostrand on drums – but other players step into the mix often, in a lineup that
includes Grant Stewart and Jerry Weldon on tenor, Dmitry Baevsky on alto, and
Frank Basile on baritone. Harris can have a bit more tradition in his tone than
you'd expect for a younger player – although it also depends on the material,
as the album features songs by Horace Silver, Bud Powell, Harld Arlen, and
Prince – in addition to Bruce's own material. Titles include "The
Step", "Mr Blakey", "Snowbound", "Ask
Questions", "So Near So Far", "Una Noche Con Francis",
and "Do U Lie". ~ Dusty Groove
DIAL & OATTS / RICH DEROSA / THE WDR BIG BAND - REDISCOVERED ELLINGTON
Rediscovered Ellington is a rarity that comes along once
every few decades, a trove of mostly unheard music by a music legend fashioned
into a glimmering yet meditative production. The great Duke Ellington, for whom
this album is a tribute, once observed that there are two kinds of music, the
kind that connects to the audience with sincerity and the kind that doesn't.
Judging by the response of listeners worldwide, Ellington's music is of the
first kind: beautiful, cultivated, resonant, and timeless. But for there to be
any audience connection at all, the music must first be heard. And that's what
is special about this stunner. Maestros in their own right, Garry Dial, Dick
Oatts, and Rich DeRosa unearthed these compositions from obscurity, They turned
musical amnesia into memorable and vivid works that bring Ellington's life and
music into sharper focus not only for the seasoned Ellington diaspora but those
new to his sizable repertoire. Dial, Oatts, and DeRosa shaping these
compositions with colorful and immaculate arrangements, rendering Ellington
afresh and anew. Prior to this recording, few of these works had a brief public
life. Most were unknown to the general public. While a few of the arrangements
suggest an homage to Ellington's sound, most of the works showcase how music
may be given new and refreshing life while respecting the composer's essence.
The album opens with Hey Baby, a mid-tempo swing number recorded in 1946 and
released on RCA Victor. It's also a well-known tune from Blue Rose, the 1956 Rosemary
Clooney album. It brings the virtuosity of soloists Oatts (soprano sax), Paul
Heller (tenor sax), Dial (piano) and Johan Hörlen (alto sax) to the forefront,
and showcases the big band's mighty brass section in multicolored shout
sections. Let The Zoomers Drool, an Ellington/Johnny Hodges tune, was
originally released as a live album in 1945 on the Jazz Society label. Kabir
Sehgal, multiple GRAMMY winning producer.
JAMIRE WILLIAMS - EFFECTUAL
Solo drum work from Jamire Williams, beautifully captured by
the spiritual production of Carlos Nino – and balanced out occasionally with
additional keyboard sounds on Fender Rhodes and Oberheim, and some other
percussion instruments as well! The approach here is quite unique – as the
set's neither as free as some improvised music albums, nor trying for any sort
of rootsy, organic approach – as Jamire clearly has a sharp focus on some
numbers, and is always keeping things on a straightforward rhythmic path – yet
one that's never just about easy drum breaks or more familiar modes. The
electric elements step in about a third of the time, and definitely keep a
nicely dynamic range to the music – on tracks that include "In
Retrospect", "Futurism", "Children Of The
Supernatural", "Selectric", "Who Will Stand",
"Chase The Ghost", and "Wash Me Over". ~ Dusty Groove.
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