Quincy Jones, after all these years, still has his fingers and toes in the jazz scene. He’s always on the lookout for new artists, and this European gypsy guitarist is his latest promising discovery.
This disc has Varady in a number of diverse settings that display his wide range. Vintage Wes Montgomery fans will go ape over Varady’s very hip reading of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again”, and a grooving B3 take of The Beatles’ “Come Together” gets the toes tapping. Some flugelhorn by Roy Hargrove works on the synthesized ballad Secret Garden which includes Kevin Gross’s vocals, while the disco dance floor gets filled with guitar and horn on “A Day In New York.” Varaday takes a trip to Kansas City with vocalist supreme Gregory Porter who shouts out “Let The Good Times Roll” and modernized Hot Club Quintet classics “Nuages” and “Swing 42” bring out the gypsy in Varady. Studio studs like Brian Bromberg/b, Harvy Mason/dr and Dave Weckl/b give the flexible support here. Through each mood, Varady shows clarity, style, swing and class. Which milieu will be emphasized in concert? I’m gonna go and find out!
Verve Records