08/17/07
DL MEDIA
BILL EVANS/Everybody Digs: Even if it doesn’t have “Waltz for Debby” or this cut or that cut, this is probably the ultimate single Evans album. Fresh from a debut the label was thrilled to sell 800 copies of, Evans took his time making this second album because he felt he had nothing new to say and was going through a set of changes that culminated with being Miles Davis’ new piano man. With Sam and Philly Joe Jones lining up behind him, when he isn’t going solo, Evans is on point throughout, guided by his singular vision and ability to make everything his own. Newly crisp with a 24 bit remaster, this is now a real show piece of a set in every way.
30182 (Riverside/Keepnews Collection)
CHET BAKER/Chet: Put away your ‘pen’s, this could easily be the ultimate Baker album. Loaded with visual and sonic iconography, this is as much producer Orrin Keepnews album as it is Baker’s. With a lasting vitriol that has stayed in tact for 47 years, Keepnews liner notes pretty much state how he still hates Baker, but he didn’t let it get in the way of the music. With a backing crew of rising stars playing with passion, the trumpet player never sounded so good, so consistently, and wasn’t allowed to sing here, much to the delight of everyone that can’t stand “Funny Valentine” as his standard bearer track. As a singular artistic statement, this is the kind of album that should be at home in any serious jazz collection, particularly as a self contained statement from the early days of lps. Hot enough to stand up and still speak across the ages.
30183 (Riverside/Keepnews Collection)
JIMMY HEATH ORCHESTRA/Really Big: This is the kind of swinging, bopping, jiving jazz big band date that makes you think of hot chicks in black leotards that have already been to Tijuana for an abortion smoking ciggies while being pursued by angry, young men working in advertizing but only until they sell their first novel, staying out too late on week nights and blowing pot surreptitiously so the cops don’t see. If Tex Avery had been making cartoons when Marty Paich was making music, this is the music the wolf would have been chasing the redhead to. Yes, this is the date you think of when you think of jazz big band music from the late 50’s whether you know it or not. While this isn’t remembered as one of Riverside’s ‘cornerstone’ albums, the artist and label were in agreement and both took the other to higher heights with this killer set. A real showcase for Heath as an arranger, composer and leader, it’s a hard driving date that a blast from start to finish. Most certainly recommended.
30186 (Riverside/Keepnews Collection)
LIVE SUPPLEMENT
WINDHAM HILL SUMMER SOLSTICE Live at Ravinia: The evening was apparently intended as a throwback the 80’s hey day of Windham Hill when it’s road show packages and themed collections ruled the adult playlist, but if you are a hard core music geek, you noticed that the show was opened by Will Ackerman, founder of the record label and closed by Jim Brickman, the last great artist to come from the label before it faded into being just another corporate asset. Between their spots was a spot by world artist, Samite, from the label’s middle period when it was trying other things. Ackerman was joined by his Sancho Pinza of 21 years, ace guitarist David Cullen whose self effacing manner hid who he is in the guitar world. All were abetted at one point by Tracy Silverman, electric violinist and all around color expert adding to the proceedings and taking a solo turn with a Led Zep medley. Ugandan Samite is like a later day Taj Mahal with electric kalimba and digital recorders replacing Mahal’s guitar. Singing in native African languages, his soundscapes and singalongs, one of which was the show closing ensemble piece, were completely arresting and charming. Brickman, the show closer, gave an abbreviated version of his normal solo show and had to improvise some portions as his crew wasn’t along for their usual colorations. He did use the spot to do some more personal things than he usually does in his regular show and had his fans in the palm of his hand, as always. Even though Windham Hill was the cutting edge of the 80’s new age scare, the players didn’t mire themselves in the past, even when revisiting old “hits”, and presented a delightful, world ranging, sonic getaway.
Volume 30/Number 290
August 17, 2007
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
(c)2007 Midwest Record