Sunday, July 12, 2020

Steve Slagle, Bill O'Connell - The Power of Two

Styles: Saxophone, Flute And Piano Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:29
Size: 126,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:12)  1. Good News
(6:09)  2. One Life
(3:46)  3. Peri's Scope
(3:58)  4. I'll Wait and Pray
(5:09)  5. A New Day
(7:07)  6. KD, Jr. (In Memory of Kenny Drew, Jr.)
(4:28)  7. The Power of Two
(5:20)  8. The Duke
(6:51)  9. Circle
(5:27) 10. Into Your Grace
(0:56) 11. Whistling Spirits

The initial impetus behind the creation of this recording was the passing of Kenny Drew Jr., an exceptional and underappreciated pianist who saxophonist Steve Slagle worked with, both in the Mingus Big Band and on one of his own leader dates Reincarnation (SteepleChase, 1994). On the day his friend passed, Slagle penned "KD JR.," later sending it to Bill O'Connell, another of his piano-playing colleagues. That got the ball rolling for this, the first duo date in Slagle's discography. Slagle and O'Connell have worked together on a number of O'Connell recordings in recent years Rhapsody In Blue (Challenge Records, 2010), Zocalo (Savant, 2013), and Imagine (Savant, 2014) but those recordings were all Latin Jazz-based. Here, while operating as a twosome, they avoid that area. Instead, they engage in dialogue that's grounded in earthy exhibitions, soulful moods, and implied if not outright stated swing of the low key variety. There's a breezy take on a Dave Brubeck classic ("The Duke"), an angular and slightly Monk-ish jaunt ("The Power Of Two"), an odd and unnerving miniature ("Whistling Spirits"), a pleasant stroll through an infrequently covered Miles Davis number ("Circle"), and, of course, Slagle's tribute to his dearly departed friend ("KD JR."). 

While less experienced musicians often try to overcompensate and fill every space when working in exposed settings like this, Slagle and O'Connell don't have this problem. There's an extremely relaxed quality to this music, and it's that easygoing vibe that makes this such an attractive date. These two manage to create music that's uplifting ("A New Day"), reflective ("Into Your Grace"), and wholly inviting. While there are no displays of sheer strength to be found here, there's no denying the power of this pair.~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-power-of-two-steve-slagle-panorama-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Steve Slagle: alto saxophone, flute (3, 8, 11); Bill O'Connell: piano.

Thank you my friend!

The Power of Two

Mark Morganelli, The Jazz Forum All-Stars - Brasil! Disc 1, Disc 2

Album: Brasil! Disc 1

Styles: Trumpet Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:44
Size: 130,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:48)  1. Amor en Paz
(4:52)  2. Deixa
(5:57)  3. Desafinado
(5:46)  4. Chovendo Na Roseira
(3:27)  5. Velas Icadas
(2:40)  6. Rua Dona Margarida
(4:06)  7. Inutil Paisagem
(3:00)  8. So Danco Samba
(3:24)  9. Anos Dourados
(3:15) 10. A Ra
(2:22) 11. Estrada do Sol
(3:34) 12. Vivo Sonhando
(5:16) 13. Caminos Cruzados
(4:11) 14. Falsa Baiana

Trumpeter and flugelhornist Mark Morganelli has led his own groups since high school days on Long Island. He has performed at the 1976 Montreux Jazz Festival, the 1992 & 1994 Syracuse Jazz Festivals, the Du Maurier Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival, JVC/NY and Saratoga Jazz Festivals, New Orleans' French Quarter Fest, and several tours of Italy, including in 2018. He's also played many concerts and festivals in Europe, Japan, Brazil and the Caribbean, and hosted nightly jam sessions aboard the QE2 to the Newport Jazz Festival from 1996-99. His first record Live On Broadway was recorded in 1982 at his 2nd Jazz Forum loft in NYC and featured James Spaulding, John Hicks, Billy Hart and others. In 1987, he recorded Five Is Bliss in the studio, featuring six originals and five standards including a couple of Brazilian tunes by Jobim. Morganelli has produced forty CDs for Candid Records, including his own Speak Low at Birdland in 1990 with Kenny Barron, Ron Carter & Jimmy Cobb. 

His fourth recording as a leader, “My Romance" was issued from live summer concert performances and featured Houston Person, Richie Hart, Rick Petrone & Joe Corsello. Morganelli has also recorded with Paquito D'Rivera, James Moody, Clark Terry, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Roland Hanna, Milt Hinton, Bucky Pizzarelli and others. He continues to perform with his Jazz Forum All-Stars and Brazil project around the region and Brasil! is his fifth CD as leader. Morganelli and his wife, Ellen Prior opened their new Jazz Forum club venue in Tarrytown, NY in June, 2017. https://news.allaboutjazz.com/trumpeter-and-flugelhornist-mark-morganelli-and-the-jazz-forum-all-stars-new-2-cd-release-brasil-drops-february-24.php

“Mark, congratulations on a beautiful tribute to your other favorite country- on all counts- repertoire, performances, and art work by your son Jaren." ~ Claudio Roditi

“As a master musician, Mark Morganelli has used his gifts as a soloist, band leader and tour guide to bring you to Brasil and Brasil to you, with this classic new album of musical gems. Each song is a treasure. Listen to it over and over (I have done so five times already) Your kids will love it too!" ~ David Amran


Album: Brasil! Disc 2

Time: 51:54
Size: 121,1 MB

(4:40)  1. A Felicidade
(2:16)  2. O Morro Nao Tem Vez
(3:21)  3. Este Seu Olhar
(3:33)  4. Outra Vez
(5:08)  5. Corcovado
(3:40)  6. Samba de Verao
(3:37)  7. Fotografia
(2:41)  8. Brigas Nunca Mais
(5:03)  9. Dindi
(1:53) 10. Luiza
(3:30) 11. Mas Que Nada
(7:15) 12. Manha da Carnaval / Samba de Orfeu
(5:12) 13. Aquarela do Brasil