Hendrik Meurkens - New York Nights

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:42
Size: 125.2 MB
Styles: Brazilian jazz, Harmonica jazz
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[5:49] 1. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
[5:27] 2. It Could Happen To You
[6:06] 3. New York Nights
[2:37] 4. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
[5:45] 5. Slidin'
[6:22] 6. Bittersweet
[6:59] 7. My Foolish Heart
[4:59] 8. The Cottage
[5:45] 9. Second Waltz
[4:49] 10. Scrapple From The Apple

The harmonica is common enough that many can immediately identify with Hendrik Meurkens' unusual agility on the instrument. This straightforward set of ten standards is distinguished for including Eric Alexander on tenor sax on several of the tunes, along with a first rate rhythm section with the venerable Jimmy Cobb on drums. Meurkins mixes the bop-infused selections well, reaching back to Bird's "Scrapple from the Apple," throwing in standards such as "My Foolish Heart" and "You Stepped Out of a Dream," and touching them off with a few very fine originals. Meurkens blows his harmonica as though it were a trumpet or saxophone, and his pure tone and natural swing pleasurably create generally upbeat, often exciting solos. While few surprises are in store, and the harmonica-ist never grandstands, his strong command of the instrument is a thrill to hear, and his modest meat-and-potatoes approach hits the mark. Alexander comes from the same mold as Meurkens, and the saxophonist's finely crafted improvisations add immeasurable to this enjoyable recording. ~Steve Loewy

New York Nights

---