Greg Diamond - Conduit

Dot Time Records - DT9011

Seamus Blake, tenor saxophone | Brian Hogans, alto saxophone | Mike Eckroth, piano | Edward Perez, bass | Henry Cole, drums | Mauricio Herrera, congas |

During the last edition of the Jazz Ahead club night in Bremen (Germany) I had the pleasure of seeing Greg Diamond, a young NYC based guitar player. This was for me one of the highlights of Jazz Ahead 2011 and I left the venue sure that we will be hearing a great deal about this talented guitarist in the years to come. Surprisingly enough Greg’s second CD “Conduit” landed on my desk for review a few weeks ago.  The CD features a number of heavy hitting players from the current NYC scene including Seamus Blake on tenor sax, Henry Cole on drums and Mike Eckroth on piano, all in all a very impressive lineup.

The CD features 8 of Greg’s compositions and shows Greg as not only a wonderful player but a very talented composer as well. Yvette opens the CD with a unison melody played by guitar and tenor leading into a strong solo’s from Seamus Blake and Greg. The contemplative “Inertia” follows, Mike Eckroth on piano sets the tone for a beautiful melody again played in unison by Greg and Alto saxophonist Brian Hogans. The track gradually develops into a slow montuno grove and sets the stage for an impressive solo’s from both Greg and Brian Hogans.

El Martillo is a 7/4 Latin jazz romp and displays this rhythm section at its best.  In contrast “El Pozo” provides a vehicle for Greg to demonstrate his affinity with Latin jazz, his playing on this track displays the utmost taste. Bassist Edward Perez shows great skill in “Turbulence” with a short but well crafted solo reminiscent of Scott LaFaro. My personal favorite is the beautiful ballad “Song for Jerry (Mi Viejo). This well crafted composition is full of surprises and features an impressive solo from Tenor player Seamus Blake.

Greg Diamond I consider to be one of the most exciting guitarists that I have heard in years. Although well established in his native New York City outside of the big apple he is largely unknown. With this release I am sure he will gain the attention of the international jazz world that he deserves.

 
Johan van Deeg

VEIN feat. Dave Liebman

Vein feat. Dave Liebman
Unit Records - UTR 4384
Michael Arbenz - piano | Florian Arbenz - drums | Thomas Lähns - bass | Dave Liebman - soprano/ tenor sax

The Swiss piano trio Vein has released their 2nd CD on Unit records this time featuring special guest Dave Liebman. Recorded in two of Europe's leading jazz venues (Sunset in Paris and the Altes Phandhaus in Cologne) the CD features a combination of original material together with a number of standards.

First cab off the rank is the Brubeck standard In “Your Own Sweet Way”. Dave Liebman opens this straight ahead swinger with a beautiful rendition of the melody leading to a typical Liebman style solo full of harmonic and rhythmic tension.  Title track “Lemuria”, composed by pianist Michael Arbenz settles straight into a solid rock groove providing a strong foundation for soloists Liebman and Michael Arbenz to explore the edges of tonality. 

The ballad, “I Loves You Porgy”, is a Vein standard and also appears on their first release on Unit records “Porgy & Bess” (UTR 4284). The track opens with a beautiful sax and piano duet, Michael Arbenz continues with a tasteful solo including some very well placed Gershwin style licks. 

Vein original “Evolution” provides room for bassist Thomas Lähns to show his virtuosity prior to opening up into a free style improvisation leading to a superb drum solo by Florian Arbenz. Next up is Dave Liebmans composition “Climbing”. This track that provides the listener with a soundscape reminiscent of the ECM releases of the early 80’s. While originally written for Bobo Stenson this track appears for the first time on this CD.

The final track on the CD is an arrangement of the Gershwin standard summertime. On this track Lähns bass intro gives way to a complex funk grove, setting the stage for Liebman's sparse but rhythmically complex solo.

Once again the brothers Michael and Florian Arbenz (piano, drums) together with bassist Thomas Lähns have delivered a great set that highlights an almost empathic interplay between these talented musicians. Dave Liebman's inspiring playing demonstrates a level of interaction that can only be expected from a group of musicians creating great jazz from a position of mutual respect. Highly recommended.

Johan van Deeg

CD Review – Carlos Villoslada - Tabanqueando en la Plaza Nina

Carlos Villoslada

Tabanqueando en la Plaza Nina

Independent release – info via www.carlosvilloslada.com

Lineup

Carlos Villoslada: tenor saxophone | Raul Gálvez: vocals | Juan Galiardo: piano | Antonio Corrales: bass |Dani Dominguez: drums | Rubem Dantas: percussion | Diego Moatoya and Pedro de Chana: palmas.

Tabanqueando en la Plaza Nina is the latest CD from Spanish tenor player Carlos Villoslada. The CD is dedicated to the Plaza Niña in Huelva, a small town in southern Spain not far from Sevilla and Villoslada’s  birth place. In the press release Villoslada states “these ideas are inspired by the melodramatic atmosphere created by the great cantaor Paco Toronjo, the most representative fandango cantaor from Alonso (Huelva).”

The CD opens with the title track and begins with a tasteful cadenza by Villoslada leading seamlessly to the simple melody presented as a quasi fandango rhythm. This stylish introduction immediately sets the atmosphere for the rest of the CD. Particularly impressive on this track is the short but effective bass solo by Antonio Corrales. The haunting “Después de Tocar” follows introducing singer Raúl Gálvez. Gálvez shows a passion and lyricism rarely heard in the genre, his vocal contribution on the album is one of the many highpoints contained on this CD.

CD Review - The Andrew Read Trio

The Andrew Read Trio

J.S.B.

Aliud Records AHD BH054-2

Line-up

Andrew Read - Double Bass | Hans Kwakkernaat - Piano | Erik Poorterman - Drums

J.S.B. is the fourth CD from the Andrew Read Trio and the first release on Aliud Records. For this CD the trio has drawn largely on the classical repertoire for their inspiration. My first opinion prior to hearing the CD was, here we go again, another crossover CD however after hearing the first few tracks this preconceived opinion was completely dispelled.  The fact is you need to listen extremely closely to pick the piece where the changes originate from. Luckily Read gives this away in the liner notes.

The opening track’s title ”J.S.B.” eludes to Johan Sebastian Bach and is based on the harmony from the aria “Erbarme dich” from Bach’s St Mathew Passion.  The track opens with an 8 bar pedal point leading to the new melody composed by pianist Hans Kwakkernaat over Bach’s chord changes. The solos are tasteful but as far as I am concerned a little on the short side.  “Just before dawn” is based on the harmony of Samuel Barbers famous Adagio for strings and is beautiful piece presented here as a bossa nova.  Kwakkernaat opens the solos on this track with a short but well formed solo leading to a beautifully melodic bass solo from band leader Andrew Read.

My favorite track on this CD is without a doubt the up tempo swinger W.A.M. This track opens with a unison melody played by the piano and bass weaving through the complex harmony of Beethoven’s piano sonata Op2 no3. Kwakkernaat shows his substantial chops in an impressive solo reminding me of Kenny Baron.  The haunting ballad “Lara” is beautiful piece featuring a rather simple melody played by both bass and piano and is great example of less is more.

The CD also contains some standards including a solo piano rendition on Monk’s “Round Midnight”. Kwakkernaat is brilliant in this rendition of Monk’s classic stretching the harmonic possibilities of the changes to their outermost edges while still retaining the essence of the original. One of the highlights of this CD is the closing track, John Scofield’s  “Grey and visceral”, with solid solos from both Kwakkernaat and Read while drummer Erik Poorterman  holds down the steady 12/8 feel.

The only down point I can find with this CD is that the recording sounds a little indirect. Personally I would have preferred the sound to have been more direct although this is always a matter of personal opinion. I really like this CD and if asked if I it’s worth buying, the answer would be simple, In a New York minute.  

 Johan van Deeg

Further Information regarding the Andrew Read Trio can be found at www.andrewreadtrio.com

 

CD Review - The Jasper Somsen Group

Jasper Somsen Group

Dreams, thoughts & poetry – The music of Enrico Pieranunzi

Challenge Records CD73303

Line up

Bert Lochs – Trumpet & Flugelhorn | Florian Zenker – Gitaar | 

Jeroen van Vliet – Piano & Fender Rhodes | Jasper Somsen – Double Bass | Pieter Bast – Drums

The Jasper Somsen group has taken the bold move to record a CD featuring from Italian master pianist Enrico Pieranunzi. In the liner notes Pieranunzi wrote “…each of my compositions has been treated with great imagination and feeling.”, and after hearing the CD I can only concur with Pieranunzi. The CD grabbed my attention immediately with Bert Lochs haunting flugelhorn melody on “Ein li milin (no more words)” This beautiful track meanders gently through Pieranunzi’s harmony and conjures up images of the Italian landscape in the autumn.

Somsen displays a true command over his instrument with the arco melody on “Dream book” and his (pizz) solo on  ”The night gone by”.  Personally, the highlight of the CD is “Dee Song”, beginning with a unisono melody played by Florian Zenker (guitar) and Somsen (double bass). Zenker’s short but well formed solo is followed by a truly beautiful trumpet solo from Bert Lochs.

Somsen shows himself to be fine composer with is composition “the middle way” (the only non Pieranunzi composition on the CD) and features a fine solo from Zenker. I had to search had to find something disappointing on this CD, however personally I feel that “Si peu de temps” just doesn’t quite fit stylistically with the rest of the track’s .

This CD is a gem and will find its way regularly to my CD player. I can’t recommend this CD highly enough.

Johan van Deeg

Further information about the Jasper Somsen Group can be found at  www.jaspersomsen.com