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ECM
PAUL BLEY/Solo in Mondsee: Celebrating his 75th birthday, it’s easy now to overlook the importance of this piano man who has really had a hand in the shaping of modern jazz. With his first solo set in forever, Bley gets back to his roots and shows why they haven’t forgotten he’s a national treasure in his native Canada. Simply a great piano set to put on, lay back and be overwhelmed by a master at work, lion in winter or not.
9491
JOHN SURMAN/Spaces in Between: I think the title refers to the decade it took for Surman to get another lovely set out with this crew along the lines of the chamber jazz that found such a good groove for. The sax man goes for the art piece here and does a bang up job of it setting down a standard that others have to live up to or get out of the game. A classic ECM date all the way, this isn’t so much a return to form as it is a look at the next wave in ECM’s wonderful, rolling tide. A masterstroke of a recording throughout.
9492
RED CAT PUBLICITY
MARCUS STRICKLAND/Open Reel Deck: A devotee of Charlie Parker at 11, this rising young lion can easily be described as Coltrane via hip hop, but he doesn’t wear easy, defining tags well. Other than the best new artist tag he’s recently nabbed, this young vet that has worked his way through the ranks of some very hip cats of several generations is a mind blowing blower. Hot and heavy contemporary sounds with one foot rooted in real music anchoring the proceedings, this is player not to be missed. Young jazzbos that can’t have it hip enough will be highly impressed with what’s going on here.
2 (Strick Music)
TELARC
LOS ANGELES GUITAR QUARTET/Brazil: As much as they bring home the Jobim bacon on this set, the cover the rest of Brazil’s vast waterfront as well. Swinging from Sergio Mendes to Hermeto Pascal, the set came to be while they were touring with guest vocalist Luciana Souza who encouraged them to follow their muse. Lovingly played by a pack of pros who pretty much say all they need to say with their guitars, this is a dandy ear opener for world beaters, jazzbos and anyone looking for something a little out of the ordinary that won’t scare them away. A real taste treat throughout.
80686
Volume 30/Number 311
September 7, 2007
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
(c)2007 Midwest Record
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