Year: 2022
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:47
Size: 151,1 MB
Art: Front
(7:40) 1. Lotus Blossom
(9:11) 2. 50-21
(9:02) 3. Hangover Triangle
(6:23) 4. My Funny Valentine
(6:36) 5. Grooveyard
(9:25) 6. The Interloper
(8:35) 7. Never Let Me Go
(8:51) 8. Step Tempest
Brooklyn-based trumpeter/composer Dave Scott, has been one of the most consistently creative bandleaders recording on the SteepleChase jazz label in recent years. Here he teams up with pianist Jacob Sacks’ working trio with bassist Dave Ambrosio and drummer Vinnie Sperrazza. Rounding out the quintet is saxophonist Rich Perry, who will be a familiar name to anyone who has followed Dave Scott’s previous releases, or anyone who is very familiar with the New York jazz scene of the last 30 years.
Somewhat unusually for this team of heavyweight jazz composer/players, they chose to focus this release on jazz standards (some fairly obscure) rather than their original compositions. Some, like “My Funny Valentine,” or “Never Let Me Go” will be familiar even to those who don’t know many standards. Somewhat more obscure are tunes like Kenny Dorham’s “Lotus Blossom” or two Thad Jones tunes “50-21” and “The Interloper,” while two seldom-covered Herbie Nichols tunes are even more obscure.
The tunes are read fairly straight ahead with little in the way of arrangement and mostly serve as a jumping off point for the soloists who stick generally to the form of the tunes and the medium swing tempi of the tunes. Dave Scott’s signature jagged style of crosshatch playing gives interesting harmonic shading to the tunes, though he proves he can also be exceptionally lyrical on “Never Let Me Go” with an intensely intimate reading of the melody and a surprisingly straightforward melodic solo.
Rich Perry contrasts Dave Scott’s angular playing with a highly melodic style that is never too concerned with sticking closely to the harmony. Rather, he develops his ideas in interesting ways that manage to stick to the form of the tunes while giving the rhythm section plenty of fun melodic material to chew on.
Probably the most interesting soloist is Jacob Sacks. He seems to have absorbed the best aspects of Perry’s and Scott’s styles as he manages to both create strong, simple melodic ideas but expand on them with furious flurries of notes and rich, close harmony. “Crafty” is probably the best word to describe his playing as he manages to derive his playing from the jazz tradition, yet constantly surprise you with the directions he takes in his solos. His signature “clustered” harmonic concept also carries through in his excellent comping for the solos.
Ambrosio and Sperrazza are left largely to keep the form and the time, but they do so in an energetic and creative manner, responding to the soloists here and there. It’s certainly interesting to hear what these five exceptionally creative musicians can do within the confines of changes and mid-tempo swing, but as one might expect, the result is not as rewarding as hearing these musicians play their own music. A bit of time spent giving these tunes thoughtful or original arrangements would probably have yielded better results as well. Still, it’s worthwhile to hear what these sometimes “out” players can do when they stick to mostly “in.”
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/triotrio/nice-treatment/
Personnel: Dave Scott - trumpet; Rich Perry - tenor saxophone; Jacob Sacks - piano; David Ambrosio - bass; Vinnie Sperrazza - drums
Somewhat unusually for this team of heavyweight jazz composer/players, they chose to focus this release on jazz standards (some fairly obscure) rather than their original compositions. Some, like “My Funny Valentine,” or “Never Let Me Go” will be familiar even to those who don’t know many standards. Somewhat more obscure are tunes like Kenny Dorham’s “Lotus Blossom” or two Thad Jones tunes “50-21” and “The Interloper,” while two seldom-covered Herbie Nichols tunes are even more obscure.
The tunes are read fairly straight ahead with little in the way of arrangement and mostly serve as a jumping off point for the soloists who stick generally to the form of the tunes and the medium swing tempi of the tunes. Dave Scott’s signature jagged style of crosshatch playing gives interesting harmonic shading to the tunes, though he proves he can also be exceptionally lyrical on “Never Let Me Go” with an intensely intimate reading of the melody and a surprisingly straightforward melodic solo.
Rich Perry contrasts Dave Scott’s angular playing with a highly melodic style that is never too concerned with sticking closely to the harmony. Rather, he develops his ideas in interesting ways that manage to stick to the form of the tunes while giving the rhythm section plenty of fun melodic material to chew on.
Probably the most interesting soloist is Jacob Sacks. He seems to have absorbed the best aspects of Perry’s and Scott’s styles as he manages to both create strong, simple melodic ideas but expand on them with furious flurries of notes and rich, close harmony. “Crafty” is probably the best word to describe his playing as he manages to derive his playing from the jazz tradition, yet constantly surprise you with the directions he takes in his solos. His signature “clustered” harmonic concept also carries through in his excellent comping for the solos.
Ambrosio and Sperrazza are left largely to keep the form and the time, but they do so in an energetic and creative manner, responding to the soloists here and there. It’s certainly interesting to hear what these five exceptionally creative musicians can do within the confines of changes and mid-tempo swing, but as one might expect, the result is not as rewarding as hearing these musicians play their own music. A bit of time spent giving these tunes thoughtful or original arrangements would probably have yielded better results as well. Still, it’s worthwhile to hear what these sometimes “out” players can do when they stick to mostly “in.”
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/triotrio/nice-treatment/
Personnel: Dave Scott - trumpet; Rich Perry - tenor saxophone; Jacob Sacks - piano; David Ambrosio - bass; Vinnie Sperrazza - drums
Nice Treatment
