At this stage in life, I don’t need to be impressed by mindlessly complex solos or shrieking high notes. As the song goes, “Give me the simple life.” Here are three artists who have nothing to prove at their respective stages in their careers, all able to focus on the wonderful basics of jazz, all gifted with tones on their instruments that are like a spiritual salve.
Kenny Burrell delivers his 108th album in the form of a concert date at Catalina’s Jazz Club in Hollywood. I caught this band of Burrell with Justo Almario/ts-fl, Tom Ranier/p, Tony Dumas/b, Clayton Cameron-Marvin Smith/dr and guest vocalist Barbara Morrison at the venue recently, and this cd serves as a perfect invitation to timeless and tasty sounds. The band shuffles the blues on “Salty Papa,” gets soft and bluesy on “Li’l Darlin” and has Morrison belt it out on a toe tapping “Confessin’ The Blues.” On acoustic guitar, Burrell is charming on “Single Petal of A Rose” and the rhythm team dances like Astaire on “Brush Magic.” All that’s missing is the two drink minimum!
Usually known for being one of the bon hommes of the Hammond B3, Joey DeFrancesco goes beyond his trademark on this release. Sure, he’s got some organ meats on the swinging “Who Shot John” and “”Traffic Jam” along with Jason Brown/dr and Dan Wilson/g. But this time around he changes mood on a handful of tunes, grabs his trumpet, switches to piano and adds Mike Boones bass for some film noirish sounds on attractive pieces like “Arizona Sunrise” and “On Georgia Bay” and even sings impressively on “The Touch of Your Lips.” This one’s a pleasant surprise-shazam!
Does any tenor sax player have a better tone than Houston Person? Here, he milks it for all its worth, and it’s a guilty pleasure to take in material such as “Crazy He Calls Me” and “I’m Afraind The Masquerade Is Over.” The team of Steve Nelson/vib, John di Martino/p, Ray Drummond/b and Lewis Nash/dr are sublime in their support, while guitarist James Chirillo adds some wonderful addendums on “The Way We Were” and “Change Partners.” Nelson’s vibes are a rich counterpoint to Person’s fog, as if a breeze were blowing through wind chimes on “The Second Time Around.” Just let it soak into your pores.
High Note Records