Showing posts with label Jon Davis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jon Davis. Show all posts

Monday, August 21, 2023

Claire Daly & George Garzone - VuVu for Frances

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:45
Size: 137,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:22) 1. All the Way
(6:23) 2. Sweet Georgia Bright
(4:51) 3. Fools Rush In
(4:54) 4. People Will Say We're in Love
(4:06) 5. The Lonely Goatherd
(2:22) 6. Mood Indigo
(4:55) 7. Warm Valley / What Am I Here For
(4:43) 8. Hold Out Your Hand
(3:51) 9. Half Nelson
(3:47) 10. Harlem Nocturne (feat. Jon Davis)
(3:15) 11. The Very Thought of You
(4:49) 12. The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers
(5:22) 13. Manhattan (feat. George Garzone)

Working jazz musicians have long been accustomed to the necessity of playing just about anything, in any setting, and Claire Daly is no exception. The intrepid baritone saxophonist has recorded tributes to Thelonious Monk and Rahsaan Roland Kirk and, in 2016, she even offered a distinctive take on Motown classics with 2468 West Grand Boulevard (Glass Beach Jazz). With the enviable versatility on her formidable horn which has brought her consistent acclaim, she now turns to more conventional jazz fare, uniting with tenor saxophonist George Garzone, a mentor and collaborator who brings his lighter touch to a wide-ranging, enjoyable set of standards and show tunes.

Daly's episodic work with Garzone goes back at least to 1998, when she appeared on his Moodiology (NYC Records), an album characteristic of Garzone's assertive style. Here he is much more subdued—indeed, the "VuVu" in this record's title is a neologism from Garzone which indicates his willingness to focus his contributions in a melodic, understated manner. Daly too stays largely within a restrained, lyrical temperament, suitable for a repertoire which ranges from Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo" to Rodgers and Hart's "I'll Take Manhattan." Ironically, the one cut in which the two saxophonists turn it loose is the Rodgers & Hammerstein number "Lonely Goatherd," one of two tunes from that songwriting team (the other being "People Will Say We're in Love"). On "Goatherd," Daly's arrangement uses an odd-meter framework to unleash some ferocious playing from both saxophonists, particularly during their mutual improvisation toward the close of the track. In other respects, the two play it straight, hewing closely to the tunes of the classic repertoire.

The rest of the band includes pianist Jon Davis, bassist Dave Hofstra, and drummer David F. Gibson. They provide all the support needed to let Garzone and Daly do their thing and with the delicate touch required on pieces such as Duke Ellington's "Warm Valley," rendered gorgeously before transitioning into the briskly paced "What Am I Here For?" There are a few surprises here, including a brief vocal turn from Daly on Steve Kuhn's "Hold Out Your Hand," and Davis switching to keyboards for a vigorous treatment of Kuhn's modal "Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers." For the most part the quintet refrains from taking too many chances, preferring to let the melodies shine lambently. And there is nothing to fault them for in that regard; when Daly and Garzone generate their tender dialogue on "Fools Rush In," it is easy to appreciate the genuine reverence the two veterans bring to this material.By Troy Dostert
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/vuvu-for-frances-clare-daly-with-george-garzone-daly-bread

Personnel: Claire Daly: saxophone, baritone; George Garzone: saxophone, tenor; Jon Davis: piano; Dave Hofstra: bass; David F. Gibson: drums.

Additional Instrumentation: Daly: vocals (8); Davis: keyboards (12).

VuVu for Frances

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Mike Clark - Mike Clark Plays Herbie Hancock

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:14
Size: 106,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:18) 1. Toys
(7:10) 2. Speak Like A Child
(4:01) 3. Dual Force
(7:17) 4. Dolphin Dance
(5:24) 5. Sorcerer
(5:31) 6. Chan's Song Never Said
(5:55) 7. Empty Pockets
(3:34) 8. Actual Proof

The music of Herbie Hancock has affected the lives of generations of jazz performers. Like many of these musicians, it was the opportunity to play with the great pianist/composer that introduced the great drummer Mike Clark to the jazz world at large. To show his appreciation, Clark presents a selection of his favorite Hancock pieces performed with a trio on his new recording, Mike Clark Plays Herbie Hancock.

Mike Clark was a burgeoning professional drummer in the Bay Area during the late 1960s. He regularly played post-bop gigs with Woody Shaw and Bobby Hutcherson, but it was in organ trios and funky gigs with his friend, bassist Paul Jackson, that really cemented Clark’s standing on the scene.

At the time, Hancock’s ground-breaking, electric Mwandishi ensemble broke up due to financial constraints. Hancock began to regroup a smaller, funkier ensemble and hired Jackson. Hancock initially had Harvey Mason for the drum chair, but his work constraints wouldn’t allow him to join. Jackson recommended Clark for the group and the Headhunters were born.

Clark’s tenure with Hancock and the Headhunters broke the drummer into the jazz consciousness and allowed him to do some revolutionary things on his instrument. Eventually, the pull of acoustic jazz playing was too much for Clark to deny and he settled in New York City and joined its incredible jazz scene. Clark remains indebted to Hancock for opening the door to a wider audience. Hancock also introduced Clark to the study of Buddhism.

Though he was known for his association with some of Hancock’s funkiest music, it was the sophisticated contemporary sounds of Hancock’s 1960s Blue Note recordings that Clark appreciated most. Clark knew that if he recorded any of his former boss’s music, it would be these pieces that he would love to take on.

Once Clark decided he wanted to go for the project, he knew just the musicians he would incorporate in a trio. Bassist Leon Lee Dorsey and pianist Jon Davis have been longtime collaborators, open to any stylistic challenge and, mostly importantly, they always swing. It just so happened that Dorsey had studio time available at Manhattan Sky Studio in New York City at the beginning of June 2022, where the trio convened and recorded a program of Hancock tunes in one or two takes, apiece.

The pieces the trio selected for the recording were pared down from a longer list of pieces they considered. Interestingly, the majority of the pieces come from Hancock’s mid to late 1960s releases on Blue Note, the outliers being “Empty Pockets” from 1962 and Buster Williams’s “Dual Force (Firewater)” from Hancock’s The Prisoner.

The recording begins with a stately version of “Toys,” Davis taking a sweeping approach on the classic from Hancock’s 1968 album, Speak Like a Child, that Clark has been playing since he was a teenager. From the same album, “Speak Like a Child,” is a gorgeously insistent piece that seems to play itself. Buster Williams’s grooving “Dual Force” provides a fantastic harmonic bed for the trio to explore. Davis’s brave suggestion to perform the highly played chestnut “Dolphin Dance” as a ballad stimulated the trio into a unique and wonderful performance.

Hancock’s “The Sorcerer” was another piece that Clark just had to play on the recording because of its sophisticated, harmonic approach. Composed for the 1980 movie Round Midnight, Stevie Wonder and Hancock’s “Chan Song” is reborn with a shuffle arrangement at the suggestion of Davis, harking back to Clark’s days of playing with blues legends during a period in Texas. The original Takin’ Off version of “Empty Pockets” remains a Clark favorite and he finds himself swinging like his hero, Billy Higgins, on the trio’s updated take. The recording concludes with “Actual Proof,” a piece that Clark provided the original drum beat on for Thrust. Here the trio takes another approach, stripping the piece down, making it more conceptual and angular.

The singular experience that Mike Clark received playing with Herbie Hancock does not outweigh the influence of the legendary pianist’s compositional gifts to Clark’s musical world. The great drummer chose to honor Hancock by playing pieces that continue to inspire him on his new Mike Clark Plays Herbie Hancock.

Personnel: Mike Clark - drums; Jon Davis - piano; Leon Lee Dorsey - bass

Mike Clark Plays Herbie Hancock

Friday, October 26, 2018

Tom Tallitsch - Gratitude

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:05
Size: 145,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:59)  1. Terrain
(5:16)  2. Kindred Spirit
(5:36)  3. Gold Dust Women
(5:00)  4. Refuge
(4:42)  5. Northeast
(7:30)  6. Alternate Side
(4:47)  7. Because
(6:00)  8. Rust Belt
(4:38)  9. Gratitude
(6:26) 10. Oblivion
(6:06) 11. Thank You

Saxophonist Tom Tallitsch shares his feelings with an abiding sense of " Gratitude" on his fourth release for Posi-Tone. Joining Tallitsch on the date is the wonderfully solid rhythm section of pianist Jon Davis, bassist Peter Brendler, and drummer Rudy Royston. Special guest and fellow label mate Brian Charette drops in to add some additional organ flavor to two tracks.  Gratitude features an exciting program of original compositions, along with Tom's new arrangements of a few classics, and the whole session swings quickly into action and shines with bright moments. As both a saxophonist and a band leader, Tallitsch has clearly shifted his musical vibrations onto another level and this set of stunning performances should encourage jazz enthusiasts to Tallitsch's musical message of "Gratitude" with amazement and delight. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Tom-Tallitsch/dp/B01BX7UU1W

Personnel:  Tom Tallitsch - tenor sax;  Jon Davis - piano;  Peter Brendler -bass;  Rudy Royston - drums;  Brian Charette - organ on 3 & 11

Gratitude

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Marcus Goldhaber With Jon Davis Trio - Take Me Anywhere

Styles: Vocal And Piano
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:11
Size: 170,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:13)  1. No Moon At All
(4:26)  2. I Get Along Without You Very Well
(4:29)  3. Take Me
(4:30)  4. With Plenty of Money and You
(4:16)  5. In the Oeuvre of the In-between
(3:55)  6. A Walk
(2:53)  7. You're Beautiful, You Know That
(4:08)  8. I Fall Apart
(5:11)  9. Top Hat, White Tie & Tails
(3:28) 10. A Felony Called Love
(5:10) 11. I Fall In Love Too Easily
(4:30) 12. She Knows
(4:03) 13. A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening
(4:51) 14. I've Never Been In Love Before
(6:12) 15. My Ship
(3:37) 16. Look for the Silver Lining
(4:10) 17. When I Take My Sugar to Tea

Marcus Goldhaber's new CD comes on like a plate full of comfort food. This collection of 17 songs (almost half of which are original and the rest familiar standards) is done straightforwardly with the Jon Davis Trio (Davis on piano, Martin Wind on bass and Marcello Pellitteri on drums with drummer Lieven Venken on one track). Goldhaber's soft, warm voice and lyric-driven laid back style tells each story effortlessly. He also takes a couple of tired chestnuts ("With Plenty Of Money And You" and "When I Take My Sugar To Tea") and gives them a fresh new approach with changes of tempo and new rhythm patterns. And just to let you know where his heart is, Goldhaber does two numbers "I Fall In Love Too Easily" (done as a waltz) and "A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening" strongly associated with Sinatra.

Since Goldhaber works mostly with the Jon Davis Trio, they all read each other well. The piano work is just enough to allow the vocal to take the spotlight, but also shines with solos on most of the tracks. Wind's wonderfully lyrical arco bass is captured on the original "A Walk" and the aforementioned "When I Take My Sugar To Tea". Also worth mentioning is Pellittieri's intricate tempo changes on "I've Never Been In Love Before" and Venken's performance on "Look For The Silver Lining". A surprise visit by Hendrik Meurkens' harmonica adds seasoning to the original "Take Me". This CD bears witness to the fact that Goldhaber is a hopeless romantic, that old-fashioned breed of singer called a crooner. In a climate which pushes reality and actuality, it's nice to find something that bespeaks of light, both moon and candle. ~ Marcia Hillman  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/take-me-anywhere-marcus-goldhaber-fallen-apple-records-review-by-marcia-hillman.php

Personnel: Marcus Goldhaber: vocals; Jon Davis: piano; Martin Wind: bass; Marcello Pellitterri: drums and percussion (4, 6); Lieven Venken: drums (16); Hendrik Meurkens: harmonica (3).

Take Me Anywhere