Schapiro 17: New Shoes-Kind of Blue at 60

Composer and arranger Jon Schapiro celebrates the 3 score anniversary of Miles Davis’ legendary Kind of Blue album by taking each tune, tweaking it and giving it new dimensions and colors. With his 17 piece ensemble that includes Roberta Piket/p and Nick Grinder/tb, Schapiro also brings in some of his own tunes which include “inspirations” from other tunes by Miles Davis. Of the five classic tunes, “So What” is painted with attractively darker hues and by gurgling reeds, “Blue In Green” broods in a melancholy fog, “All Blues” is coaxed along by Jon Wikan’s ride cymbal, the trumpets hover on “Freddy Freeloader” and a Gil Evansy’ sophistication floats for “Flamenco Sketches”. Roberta Piket’s “Foild Bunk” is an impressionistic delight, the team gets into a Mingusy mood with some palpable baritone sax on “Boiled Funk 4” and the rhythm team shuffles to a bopping “Boiled Funk/Theme” with bassist Evan Gregor carrying the ball over the goal line. Impressive salute without being imitative.

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