WADADA LEO SMITH – REFLECTIONS & MEDITATIONS ON MONK
Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith never fails to blow us away – and
even though he's captured our ear with recent higher-concept projects or other
group work, he sounds equally mindblowing here in a completely solo setting! As
you'd guess from the title, the set's based around the musical vision of
Thelonious Monk – territory not often explored on solo trumpet, and handled
beautifully here by Smith – both on his long extrapolations based on Monk's
compositions, and on his own tunes dedicated to Monk – which are these bold,
brilliant paintings in sound that the legendary pianist would have been proud
to hear. We're not sure what's in the water over at Smith's house, but he's
really had this amazing blossom of fresh creativity in recent years – as you'll
hear on his compositions here, entitled "Monk & His Five Point Ring At
The Five Spot Cafe", "Monk & Bud Powell At Shea Stadium",
and "Adagio Monkishness – A Cinematic Vision Of Monk Playing Solo" –
alongside versions of Monk tunes that include "Ruby My Dear",
"Reflections", "Round Midnight", and "Crepuscule With
Nellie". ~ Dusty Groove
ERIC REVIS – SING ME SOME CRY
The bass of Eric Revis sounds better than we ever remember –
and that's saying a lot, because we've really liked his other records too! Yet
here, it almost feels like Revis is out to re-state himself as a musician –
coming on strong with a tone that could put him up there with the giants of
earlier years – and beautifully matched with drummer Chad Taylor, who's always
been an amazing example of that rare quality of being tight and loose at the
same time! Ken Vandermark blows tenor and clarinet – but in a way that really
seems to respect the path taken by Revis and Taylor – as does the piano of Kris
Davis, which punctuates the sound perfectly. Titles include "Sing Me Some
Cry", "PT 44", "Good Company", "Rye
Eclipse", "Rumples", and "Drunkard's Lullaby". ~ Dusty Groove
BRIAN CHARETTE - BACKUP
Brian Charette's a contemporary organist who's always out to
set himself apart from most of the rest – not by forcing any sort of
experimental modes on the Hammond, or by trying to race up and down the keys –
but just by relaxing into a tune, and really finding a way to deliver a
performance that's clear and crisp, yet undeniably soulful! Whereas other
younger Hammondists might be driven to work in the territory of the Jimmys –
McGriff and Smith – or Jack McDuff – Charette's almost got more of the
understated quality of Shirley Scott, especially on a trio date like this.
Brian keeps his tone nicely in check – always playing with these round,
fully-formed notes – even on material by artists like Larry Young or Joe
Henderson – and he's balanced out here by the piano of Henry Hay and drums of
Jochen Rueckert, in a way that uses the piano to almost underscore and echo the
lines of the organ. Titles include "The Blessing", "Backup",
"A Shade Of Jade", "Tadd's Delight", "These Are
Soulful Days", and "Dahoud".
~ Dusty Groove
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