Re-posT: Kenny Barron Quintet: Images (2004)

While this album seems mellow on first listen, there's a lot going on under the surface: sharp time-signature changes (a la Dave Brubeck), breakneck tempos, Brazilian undertones, and complex, darting but always pretty melodies. Not to overlook the soloing; Barron consistently dazzles with his lean, Thelonious Monk-tinged style, Stefon Harris's vibes glisten like morning sunlight, and Anne Drummond's flute is both soothing and spirited simultaneously. IMAGES is recommended to not only Barron and jazz-piano fans, but those who think music can't be intensely artistic and accessible at once.

Hard-bop pianist Kenny Barron has been a "musician's musician" for decades, playing behind such towering figures as Dizzy Gilles pie, Yusef Lateef, Stan Getz, and Freddie Hubbard. But in the 1990s, Barron began to take center stage, leading mostly trios through a series of albums that established him as a fine composer of intricate but madly swinging tunes. On IMAGES, he's assembled a somewhat unusual lineup, dispensing with any reeds or brass--just piano, flute, vibes, bass, and drums. The result is a set of bright, deceptively easygoing straight-ahead jazz--imagine the Modern Jazz Quartet after a long vacation in Brazil, where they drank lots of coffee.

Tracklist:

01 So It Seems - 4:12
02 Jasmine Flower - 5:48
03 Inside Out - 6:35
04 The Lost Ones - 7:05
05 Hallucinations - 4:01
06 Song for Abdullah - 6:46
07 Footprints - 7:12
08 Marie Laveau - 7:40
09 Miss Missy - 5:22
10 Images - 18:02

Personnel:

Kenny Barron (piano)
Stefon Harris (vibraphone)
Anne Drummond (alto and c-flute)
Kiyoshi Kitagawa (bass)
Kim Thompson (drums)
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Kenny Barron Super Trio: Super Standard (2004)

Super Trio is the name given by the Japanese Venus label to a trio of Manhattan based musicians, consisting of pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Al Foster. Contractual reasons may have prevented the CD's release under Barron's name and like many Venus dates, this is not a working trio, but one assembled for the record date. As one of the busiest pianists around, Barron has a wealth of music at his fingertips and he doesn't disappoint with fresh approaches to standards and jazz compositions that make up this session. Leonhart occasionally shows a sense of humor in his solos, while Foster is a capable drummer who has worked with many stars, in addition to occasionally recording as a leader. The driving "All of Me" is a nice switch from the typical relaxed arrangement, while the Latin-flavored take of Bud Powell's "Cleopatra's Dream" swings. Barron's scoring of "Misty" proves lyrical and spacious, while he personalizes Duke Ellington's rarely performed "Sunset and the Mockingbird" with his distinctive touch. It is difficult not to think of Art Tatum when one sees "Willow Weep for Me" followed by "Yesterdays," but Tatum was not on Barron's mind for these performances. The former is a showcase for Leonhart's masterful arco playing, with the latter being a bouncy post-bop rendition of this old chestnut. ~ Ken Dryden

Tracklist:
01. All of me
02. Bye bye blackbird
03. Cherokee
04. Cleopatra’s dream
05. Doxy
06. Misty
07. Stolen moments
08. Summer night
09. Sunset and the mockingbird
10. Sweet and lovely
11. Willow weep for me
12. Yesterdays
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Kenny Barron Quintet: Images (2004)

While this album seems mellow on first listen, there's a lot going on under the surface: sharp time-signature changes (a la Dave Brubeck), breakneck tempos, Brazilian undertones, and complex, darting but always pretty melodies. Not to overlook the soloing; Barron consistently dazzles with his lean, Thelonious Monk-tinged style, Stefon Harris's vibes glisten like morning sunlight, and Anne Drummond's flute is both soothing and spirited simultaneously. IMAGES is recommended to not only Barron and jazz-piano fans, but those who think music can't be intensely artistic and accessible at once.

Hard-bop pianist Kenny Barron has been a "musician's musician" for decades, playing behind such towering figures as Dizzy Gilles pie, Yusef Lateef, Stan Getz, and Freddie Hubbard. But in the 1990s, Barron began to take center stage, leading mostly trios through a series of albums that established him as a fine composer of intricate but madly swinging tunes. On IMAGES, he's assembled a somewhat unusual lineup, dispensing with any reeds or brass--just piano, flute, vibes, bass, and drums. The result is a set of bright, deceptively easygoing straight-ahead jazz--imagine the Modern Jazz Quartet after a long vacation in Brazil, where they drank lots of coffee.

Tracklist:
01 So It Seems - 4:12
02 Jasmine Flower - 5:48
03 Inside Out - 6:35
04 The Lost Ones - 7:05
05 Hallucinations - 4:01
06 Song for Abdullah - 6:46
07 Footprints - 7:12
08 Marie Laveau - 7:40
09 Miss Missy - 5:22
10 Images - 18:02
Personnel: Kenny Barron (piano)
Stefon Harris (vibraphone)
Anne Drummond (alto and c-flute)
Kiyoshi Kitagawa (bass)
Kim Thompson (drums)
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Stefano di Battista: Parkers Mood (2004)

Italian saxophonist Stefano di Battista's second release for Blue Note finds him paying tribute to legendary jazz alto saxophonist Charlie Parker. Fittingly titled Parker's Mood, the album is a stellar collection of Parker-penned tracks as well as songs the jazz innovator made famous. Altoist and occasional soprano man di Battista showcases a lithe and brisk feel that often tends toward swiftly percussive bop, especially when tackling such '40s standards as "Salt Peanuts" and "Donna Lee." Joining di Battista here are the always capable rhythm section luminaries of pianist Kenny Barron and drummer Herlin Riley, as well as longtime di Battista compadres bassist Rosario Bonaccorso and trumpeter Flavio Boltro. While the album is a straight-ahead affair, tracks such as "Hot House" and "Congo Blues" benefit from Riley's creative Latin cum second line and impeccable swing, respectively. As such, Parker's Mood is a solid, no-nonsense mainstream jazz affair. ~ Matt Collar

Tracklist:
1. Salt Peanuts (D.Gillespie/K.Clarke) 2:49
2. Embraceable You (G.& I.Gershwin ) 9:33
3. Night In Tunisia (D.Gillespie/F.Paparelli) 5:00
4. Parker's Mood (C.Parker) 5:17
5. Confirmation (C.Parker) 5:12
6. Donna Lee (C.Parker) 3:24
7. Laura (D.Raskin/J.Mercer) 6:47
8. Hot House (T.Dameron) 3:58
9. Congo Blues (C.Parker) 2:26
10. Round Midnight (T.Monk) 7:10
Personnel:
Stefano di Battista: alto & soprano saxophone
Kenny Barron: piano (except on track 8)
Rosario Bonaccorso: bass
Herlin Riley: drums
Flavio Boltro: trumpet on tracks 1,3,5,8
Parker's Mood (Edition Standard)
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Arturo Sandoval: Time for Love (2010)

Arturo Sandoval is a true maestro: despite his reputation as a bop-based trumpeter who plays jazz inspired by his native Cuban tradition, he has delved deeply into tango, swing, and electric jazz in his long career. He is also a fine pianist and percussionist. That said, the notion of him recording a collection of classical pieces, standards, and ballads with a trio and a string orchestra as backing is more than a bit of a surprise. Nonetheless, that's what A Time for Love basically is. Sandoval claims that this is the realization of a 20-year dream. He wanted it bad enough to make and release the record himself, but fate stepped in. Pianist Shelly Berg heard the demos and brought him to Concord's Greg Field, who in turn brought in Grammy-winning arranger Jorge Calandrelli. They co-produced while Calandrelli arranged eight of the nine string charts -- Berg arranged the other and brought in his trio to back up Sandoval.

The classical readings include Faure's "Aprés Un Reve" and "Pavane," Ravel's "Pavane Pour une Infante Defunte" (with Chris Botti on second trumpet), and Astor Piazzolla's "Oblivion" (with Monica Mancini on vocals). All reveal the emotional depth of Sandoval's playing, not just his technical acumen. While his fiery jazz playing can emote, it is often overshadowed by his expertise. Here, it is softness and tenderness without sentimentality that speak to the listener. The standards such as "I Loves You Porgy," the shimmering swing in "Speak Low," and the deep romance in the Johnny Mandel-Johnny Mercer classic "Emily" seemingly come from the vocal jazz tradition. Yet in them one can readily hear what Sandoval claims are his two greatest inspirations for this album: trumpeter Bobby Hackett's playing with the Jackie Gleason Orchestra, and the album Clifford Brown with Strings. The musical economy of those influences is reflected in the emotional weight and complex lyrical dimension carried in each note by Sandoval; the arrangements serve to heighten that revelation rather than overtake it. There are two very satisfying bonus tracks included as well, "The Windmills of Your Mind," a stellar duet with Berg, and Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye," with Kenny Barron guesting on piano. It's tempting to call A Time for Love Sandoval's masterpiece, but that is based on the sharp contrast with virtually everything else in his catalog; only time will reveal whether or not it is. For now, what is certain is that it is one of them. ~ Thom Jurek

Tracklist:

01. Apres Un Reve 5:08

02. Emily 4:26

03. Speak Low 4:36

04. Estate 3:58

05. A Time For Love 5:04

06. Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (feat. Chris Botti) 5:12

07. I Loves You Porgy 5:15

08. Oblivion (How To Say Goodbye) 5:24

09. Pavane 4:50

10. Smile 3:59

11. All The Way 4:02

12. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 4:21

13. Windmills Of Your Mind 5:32

14. Every Time We Say Goodbye 5:54

Personnel:

Arturo Sandoval (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn);

Monica Mancini (vocals);

Chris Botti (trumpet);

David Ewart, Songa Lee, Robin Olson, Searmi Park, Tiffany Yi Hu, Phillip Levy, Tamara Hatwan, RazdanKuyumijian, Kevin Connolly, Natalie Leggett, Darius Campo, Liane Mautner, Charlie Bisharat (violin);

Darren McCann, Keith Greene, Harry Shirinian, Alma Fernandez (viola);

Trevor Handy, Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, Dennis Karmazin, Christine Ermacoff (cello);

Kenny Barron, Shelly Berg (piano);

Gregg Field (drums, percussion).

Time for Love
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