Eric Boeren - Coconut

Styles: Cornet Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:56
Size: 136,4 MB
Art: Front

( 5:29)  1. Coconut
(10:26)  2. What Happened At Conway Hall, 1938?
( 4:39)  3. Shake Your Wattle
( 4:42)  4. The Fish In The Pond
( 5:34)  5. Little Symphony
( 1:19)  6. Crunchy Croci
( 4:03)  7. Crunchy Croci (Continued)
( 5:09)  8. Padàm
( 5:29)  9. Joy Of A Toy
( 6:11) 10. Journal
( 5:51) 11. BeeTee's Minor Plea

There are parallels between Ornette Coleman's approach to collective improvisation and that of Dutch avant jazzers from the 1960s onward, so the emergence of a Dutch quartet that pays homage to Coleman's groundbreaking circa-1960 foursome isn't a big surprise. Cornetist Eric Boeren's quartet, whose 2012's recording Coconut is the most recent of several discs finding common ground between Coleman and the Dutch jazz mindset, is not merely a repertory band; indeed, only two tracks out of 11 on Coconut are Coleman compositions. Rather, Boeren who takes on cornetist Don Cherry's instrumental role composed the lion's share of material performed on this intimate live date, finding the meeting point between Coleman's groundbreaking developments in melody, harmony, and group interaction and his own Dutch-schooled, anything-goes improvisational sensibility. Veteran Han Bennink plays only a snare drum here, and he's astounding from the opening moments of the leadoff title track, well named given its ebullient island flair, as he conjures up sounds that suggest timbales, congas yes, maybe even a coconut  while Boeren and saxophonist Michael Moore build riffs into melodies into improvised singing dialogues. As Wilbert de Joode transitions into a walking bassline, Bennink moves effortlessly into hyperswing mode beneath Moore's saxophone, whose beautiful tone is all his own even as he dips into Coleman-esque bluesy phrasing.

At over 15 minutes in length, "What Happened at Conway Hall, 1938?" is epic in scope, with thematic material cropping up here and there across a lengthy, suite-like structure. Boeren and Moore engage in telepathic conversations and Bennink shouts his enthusiasm; after a calypso-flavored passage slides into relaxed swing and Moore steps out on alto, the band moves into exploration of pure sound and space, including extended techniques with mouthpieces maybe nobody in this group actually needs a complete musical instrument. The piece closes with a Boeren-Bennink duet until de Joode kicks in with a vamp seguing into "Shake Your Wattle," with Boeren muted yet jaunty and the band uniting in spirited fashion. "The Fish in the Pond" moves into a freer rhythmic space, the horns' long and bluesy lines over de Joode's twisting arco refracting a bit of Coleman's well-known "Lonely Woman" side. With "Little Symphony" and "Joy of a Toy," the quartet treats listeners to a pair of Coleman "leftovers" recorded in July 1960 but not released on LP until over a decade later on Twins. These relatively concise and accessible tunes are delivered with themes intact and expertly played, characteristically swinging through the improvs and featuring group collective interplay that can only come from four musicians with years of experience collaborating in a place like Amsterdam. And a curve ball greets listeners at the disc's conclusion, as the band delivers a sparse but unique and credible read of Booker Little's "Bee Tee's Minor Plea," also from 1960. Boeren and friends know that 1960 was a hell of a jazz year, and with Coconut they've helped achieve the same for 2012. 

~ Dave Lynch https://www.allmusic.com/album/coconut-mw0002438005

Personnel: Cornet, Leader – Eric Boeren; Bass – Wilbert de Joode; Reeds – Michael Moore ; Snare [Snare Drum] – Han Bennink

Coconut

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Jimmy Scott - Holding Back the Years

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:14
Size: 113,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:16)  1. What I Wouldn't Give
(5:06)  2. The Crying Game
(5:23)  3. Jealous Guy
(5:28)  4. Holding Back the Years
(5:13)  5. How Can I Go On Without You
(3:49)  6. Almost Blue
(4:27)  7. Slave to Love
(6:18)  8. Nothing compares 2 U
(4:54)  9. Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
(3:15) 10. Don't Cry Baby

After venturing into the rock and soul catalog with renditions of Bob Dylan, Curtis Mayfield, and the Talking Heads songs, Little Jimmy Scott really digs here with a program made up almost entirely by pop hits from the last three decades. Due in part to the insight of producers Gerry McCarthy and Dale Ashley, Scott tackles contemporary material that, in its elegance, jazz overtones, and passion, is perfectly suited to his special brand of vocal savvy and knack for the great standards. Of course, he could probably cover almost any song and transform it into something unique, which is what he often does here. 

With his gentle pacing, vulnerable-sounding yet powerful soprano, and unerring sense of dynamics, Scott entirely refashions classics like Bryan Ferry's "Slave to Love," Elton John and Bernie Taupin's "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word," and the movie theme "The Crying Game." And while maybe not wrought anew, his versions of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy," Elvis Costello's "Almost Blue," and Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" are still stunning. He even gives Simply Red's Mick Hucknell a few needed lessons in vocal phrasing with an in-the-pocket rendition of the title track. Better to showcase Scott's singular voice, the arrangers wisely supply him with an unobtrusive and classy backdrop punctuated with subtle, yet keen solo breaks. An amazing set by one of the best singers around. ~ Stephen Cook https://www.allmusic.com/album/holding-back-the-years-mw0000047014

Personnel: Vocals – Jimmy Scott;  Bass – Hilliard Greene; Drums – Victor Jones;  Guitar – Matt Muniseri;  Harmonica – Gregorie Maret ; Piano   Saxophone – Bruce Kirby; Strings – David Gotay, Hye Kyung Seo, Susan Aquila, Wayne Graham;  Trumpet – Pamela Fleming

Holding Back the Years

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