Today's review is for a CD that was released a while ago. I never got to listen to it until recently, and once I heard it I knew I had to get the word out. The CD, "Standards" is by Pianist/Composer Noah Haidu who is joined by Bassists Buster Williams and Peter Washington, Drummer Lewis Nash and guest Sax player Steve Wilson. The CD was inspired and celebrates the 40th anniversary of the remarkable Jarrett, Peacock and DeJohnette's first "Standards" album. Noah Haidu says, "There's something so vulnerable about playing in this context, when you're completely exposed. Of course, I love composing because you can create an entire world, your own language of sound. But with these old standards all you've got is your own musicality and the connection you have with the music and the players. That requires a willingness to let go and see where the song takes you, something that can't be taught or practiced." The theme of lost love is the emotional center of so many of the standards on this CD like "Skylark", "All The Way" and "I Thought About You". Haidu says "There've been a few painful breakups in recent years and I lost my father with whom I was very close. That universal feeling of lost love comes into play on so many standards, especially the ballads." It's wonderful that we have another highly-talented young Pianist willing to continue the Keith Jarrett tradition of spot-lightning a new look at standards for Jazz fans today!
I have attached two "YouTube" videos. The first is a beautiful presentation of . "Skylark". The second is the classic ballad, "Beautiful Friendship".
Some newer Jazz fans may not think that traditional Jazz has much to offer these days. How wrong they are. I just finished listening to the "Wild Man Blues" by The Ehud Asherie Trio that I would described as terrific, new and fresh traditional Jazz! Pianist Ehud Asherie has put together an outstanding mixture of early New Orleans Jazz, Swing, Bebop, and songs from the Great American Songbook, as well as a deep passion for the music of Brazil.
Ehud Asherie is a talented Pianist and Arranger who integrates the venerable New York piano tradition from Fats Waller and James P Johnson to Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk into his own inventive style. Ehud has done a master job of arranging songs that were made famous by horn players like New Orleans Trumpeter Red Allen("Wild Man Blues") and Charlie Parker's("Parker's Mood") into seamlessly wonderful Jazz Piano Trio pieces.
The outstanding rhythm team of Bassist Peter Washington and Drummer Rodney Green provide Ehud with the perfect support behind his creative playing. In my opinion, this is one of the best Piano Trios recording today! They create new life into some old but great classic standards and, yet, still retain the original structure of the tunes.
This CD touches all aspects that make a Jazz Piano Trio great. If you love to listen to Jazz Piano Trio music, this CD will be for you. If you are not that familiar with the joy of the music from a Jazz Piano Trio, you will be after listening to The Ehud Asherie Trio.
Playlist: 1. "Wild Man Blues" 2. "Parker's Mood" 3. "Flying Down To Rio" 4. "Autumn Nocturne" 5. "Chasin' The Bird" 6. "Na Baixa Do Sapateiro" 7. "Oh, Lady Be Good" 8. "And The She Stopped"
Players: Ehud Asherie- Piano, Arranging Peter Washington- Bass Rodney Green-Drums
I have attached a "YouTube" of The Ehud Asherie Trio playing Louis Armstrong's "Wild Man Blues". It really swings with a relaxed comfortable feel.
It's time to leave the "Great American Songbook" for a while and get back to the "Great American Jazz Songbook". I just finished listening to some straight-away Jazz from Trumpeter Terrell Stafford. His new CD "BrotherLee Love" is a tribute to the soulful musical legacy of Philadelphia's Lee Morgan. Stafford is not a Philadelphia native but for the past two decades he has helped past the torch to the next generation through his work as Director of Jazz and Chair of instrumental studies at Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance. According to Stafford, "This project is about how I was embraced by this city and about a Trumpet player who has always been a huge inspiration to me". Stafford offers this for Lee Morgan, "The Trumpet was merely a vehicle to express who he was. There was rasp, there was grit, there was personality, there was sass, exactly who he was as a person was inside of his sound and that's what I loved about it".
There are nine cuts on the album, seven were written by Lee Morgan, one "Favor" was written by Terell and the last song is a beautiful interpretation of Alex Kramer's ballet "Candy". Terrell features his rock-star quintet of Saxophonist Tim Warfield, Pianist Bruce Barth, Bassist Peter Washington, and Drummer Dana Hall. Every one of these guys is a great musical Jazz star. To put a top on this beautiful piece of Jazz art, Terrell selected the great John Clayton produce the CD. When you deal with the top musicians, they only surround themselves with the best and this outstanding CD proves why that is the only way to go!
This is a Jazz Trumpet performance at it highest level.
PLAYLIST
1. "Hocus Pocus" 2. "Mr Kenyatta" 3. "Petty Larceny" 4. "Candy" 5. "Yes I Can, No You Can't" 6. "Favor" 7. "Stop Start" 8. "Carolyn" 9. "Speedball"
I have attached a "YouTube" of Terell Stafford playing a Lee Morgan composition "Petty Larceny" with support from Tim Warfield-Tenor Sax, Bruce Barth-Piano, Peter Washington-Bass and Dana Hall-Drums.
