Dick's Picks
Dick Bogle
February 18, 2010
This week’s “Picks” feature some big familiar jazz names, as well as one new to me. He is the very talented Noel Webb, a superb violinist and bandleader. But first: one of my all time favorites, tenor saxophonist Houston Person.“Mellow” by Houston Person on High Note * * * * *
Tenor saxophonist Houston Person endures, remaining a favorite of those listeners who know the music and can tell the difference between musicians like Person, who are grounded in the tradition, and today’s large crop of pretenders.
Person’s rich luxuriant tenor is equally at home and at ease with a chestnut ballad like “Two Different Worlds,” and gritty blues like “Blues In the AM.” He can jump too! Give a listen to his 3:13 take of “Lester Leaps In”.
Person wasn’t alone in the studio. He has an excellent band with pianist John Di Martino, guitarist James Chirillo, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Lewis Nash.
“Symbiosis” by Jeff Hamilton Trio on Capri * * * * *
Drummer Jeff Hamilton is certainly the leader of this generation’s stick and brush players.
Not only is his individual musicianship beyond question, the man knows how to pick his band mates. This is his regular trio with bassist Christoph Luty and pianist Tamir Handelman.
On Lionel Hampton’s “Midnight Sun,” Handelman finds a comfortable groove to play over the leader’s tom tom backing. On the title tune, “Symbiosis,” composed by Klaus Ogerman and originally recorded by Bill Evans, Handelman is exquisite as he delivers with both sensitivity and power. Bassist Luty gets in an all too brief arco solo.
The trio kicks it up several notches with “Fascinating Rhythm” and some rapid fire brush work by Hamilton. When it comes to piano trio jazz, this is at the top of the list.
“Give It All” by Noel Webb on Red Lab * * * *
Leader, composer, violinist Noel Webb integrates his luscious violin into five smooth jazz tracks tinged with soul.
Vocalists Trena Stewart and Joel Gaines team for a superb version of “Where is the Love.” Gaines is also a key element as he plays keyboards and synthesizer. The only thing wrong here is, it’s just too brief.
“The Story Of Jazz” By Various Musicians; DVD on Medici Arts * * * * *
This 98 minute DVD crams in the evolution of jazz from its earliest days to modern times.
To do this, the producers rely on tight informative interviews and sound bites from those who knew the history like Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Illinois Jacquet, Jay Mc Shann, Randy Weston and others.
The music is some of the best from the best and is presented in a manner fans of the music will appreciate. Those performances includes those by John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan and more.
“Thelonious Monk American Composer”; DVD on Medici Arts * * * * *
This, by far, is the most thorough exploration of pianist-composer Thelonious Monk, the person, and his music ever captured on dvd.
It includes Monk’s performances of “Round Midnight,” “Lulu’s Back in Town,” “Epistrophy,” “Blue Monk,” “Criss Cross,” “Well You Needn’t,” “Trinkle Tinkle,” “Evidence,” and more.
There are meaty sound bites from his contemporaries which provide seldom known insights into Monk’s history. This is a grand celebration of one of the pillars of America’s classical music.
