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Jazzmatazz Newsletter
#195

26 September 2004

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Recent jazz releases
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New Issues for 14 September 2004

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14 September 2004
Capsule Reviews

     Eternal is an excellent album of ballads by saxophonist Branford Marsalis with his quartet of pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Jeff "Tain" Waits. The album includes one tune be each of the musicians, plus three standards.

The playing is subtle and nuanced, moving and heartfelt without being overly sweet. Branford dedicates the album to the memory of lost musicians and friends (including musicians Malachi Favors, Elvin Jones, Steve Lacy, Ray Charles and James Williams). Eternal may be the most beautiful album I've heard this season.     — ALAN LANKIN

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     Branford Marsalis drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts shows his more usually exuberant side on Detained at the Blue Note, recorded live at the Blue Note, NYC, on Feb. 7-8, 2004, with Kenny Garrett (alto sax), Marcus Strickland (tenor sax), Dave Kikoski (piano), David Gilmour (guitar) and Eriv Revis (bass).

     The five stretched-out tunes (in the ten to twenty minute range) include four previously recorded Watts originals plus Bjork's "107 Steps." The tune "JC is the Man" has a catchy melody, while "Mr. JJ" and "Sigmund Groid" both have the high energy intensity of late period Coltrane. But even with some pretty out sax solos, the rhythm section tunes manage to keep the listener tapping to the beat.     — ALAN LANKIN

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     It takes chutzpah to take on the classic jazz charts of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" that Gil Evans arranged for trumpeter Miles Davis in 1958. But at age 84, Clark Terry has nothing to prove. He's had a long, illustrious career, playing with Charlie Barnet, Count Basie and spent eight years with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in the 1950s. (He even gave some advice to Miles early in his career.)

Wisely, Terry performs the solos on this new version of Porgy and Bess in his own style, without referring to Miles' rendition. It's probably impossible to forget Miles' versions, but after a few listens I began to be able to appreciate Terry's solos. Highlight include the mournful "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" and his take on "It Ain't Necessarily So." And Jeff Lindberg & the Chicago Jazz Orchestra perform admirably throughout on Gil Evans' score. (I love Evans' use of rumbling low brasses.)     — ALAN LANKIN

[As a sidenote, there's a streaming audio interview with Clark Terry, recorded in August 2004 for Chicago Public Radio, where he discusses topics ranging from his early years to Miles to the making of this album.]

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     On his new trio recording, My Favorite Things, pianist Don Friedman employs the same excellent rhythm section of basist George Mraz and drummer Lewis Nash that he used on his previous recording, Waltz for Debby. And once again, Friedman has a wisely chosen mixture of standards (seven) and originals (three), with a good variety of tempo and mood.

Friedman's playing is in Bill Evans neighborhood, displaying fluidity and grace in his standards playing. "Easy to Love" is performed with a bossa rhythm. There's a fine version of Thelonious Monk's "Ask Me Now" with some good brushwork from Nash. The trio's version of "Never Let Me Go' is exquisite. "Half and Half" is a fun original that alternates between a lightning fast and a medium tempo in which Friedman converses with Nash. They tackle Coltrane's "Giant Steps" with aplomb. The set concludes quietly with solo piano on Friedman's mellow original "Summer's End."     — ALAN LANKIN

14 September 2004
Listings

other recent jazz releases
(from July to last week)
[recent.Jazzmatazz.info]

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upcoming jazz releases
[upcoming.Jazzmatazz.info]

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earlier 2004 jazz releases
(Jan-June)
[jazzmatazz.home.att.net/cds2004.html]
[jazzmatazz.home.att.net/releases/jazzmatazz_cds2004.zip]

non-jazz items of interest

2003 jazz releases
[jazzmatazz.home.att.net/cds2003.html]
[jazzmatazz.home.att.net/releases/jazzmatazz_cds2003.zip]

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Clicking on the album title will link to the CDuniverse and Amazon sites, which include sound samples (indicated by ) for many of the CDs. Sound samples often aren't posted until the CD is released, so be sure to check back for them on the recent releases and earlier year 2003 and year 2002 pages.

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last update 26 September 2004