[JPL] Bopndicks 20 picks June 2006

[Dick Crockett]

BOPNDICKS 20 PICKS   JUNE 2006

CHARLES  LLOYD       SANGAM         ECM
Lloyd has credentials that pre avant gard nuance.
He was there in the sixties with  morning and
afternoon ragas,
“Forest Flower, Sunrise and Sunset.”   So there's
nothing surreal about Sangam. As he's here with us now
with two excellent percussionists, Zakir Hussain,
tabla and Eric Harlind, drums,  a stellar element,
nary a word about an immediate past or a distinctive
future. This Charles Lloyd rails on with long
improvisational passages.  He's like Richie Havens
without words, majestic, phenomenal, magical. 
Remember Charles Lloyd has meditated on Big Sur for
ten glorious years. 
Now he has a perpetual smile and limitless energy to
play his music with a following that rivals “The
Grateful Dead.”
Caution: When visiting the Henry Miller museum at Big
Sur, don't lose your essence.

PAT MARTINO     REMEMBER   A TRIBUTE TO WES MONTGOMERY
 Blue Note
“Pretty burnin, Man, “ says Martino , right after the
session on “Full House.”  As Bukowski commented on
Mickey Rourke's delivery on a line in 'Bar Fly,” more
low key,' with definition, Man!  This tribute to
Montgomery is also a tribute to Wynton Kelly and their
collaborations together especially “Smokin At The Half
Note.” Metheny calls it the absolute best jazz guitar
album of all time!
That's all you need to know...that's why this will be
the absolute best jazz guitar album this year,with
definition man!

SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE 2                           NONESUCH
Records
This Collective reminds  us of those  other great hard
bop years with Oliver Nelson and “Stolen Moments” and 
the Thelonious Monk band, as in Nicholas Payton's
“Scrambled Eggs.” This Octet features  the best of the
era, Joshua Redman, Bobby Hutcherson, Renee Rosnes, 
Miquel Zenon,  Nicholas Payton, Isaac Smith, Matt
Penman and Eric Harland. So when the SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE
is in your neighborhood, you be there, or be square.
The absolute the best small band of our generation. 
You can quote me on that, Or take it down the street!
Or take another East Coast tour. And make sure we get
our West Coast Wetabix summer's  tour of the jazz
festivals.
If your confined to the studio make sure you mix THE
HOUSE THAT TRANE BUILT on IMPULSE  this summer along
with the  SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE and you'll be anointed and
shrouded in hard bop virtue.

THE VANGUARD JAZZ ORCHESTRA     UP FROM THE SKIES  
MUSIC OF JIM MCNEELY     Planet Arts Records
A profound unique band experience, so masterfully
produced, brushes on a Sunday Afternoon with a
humongous brass section in June  or July maybe?  Ok,
John Riley play your brushes but make sure your drums
are well miked. Other than that slight critique. Go
about your daily business and spy on this new CD. This
is the absolute best big band of the year, no foolin!

JOEY  DeFRANCESCO         ORGANIC VIBES        
Concord Jazz
Come on now, you know what this is...CLASSIC OLD
SCHOOL.
To me it's RIGHT ON...Since my grand daughters are
listening to LED ZEPPLIN, then give me the distinct
pleasure  of  reporting that this is now with a twist
of Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Lem Winchester and Tina
Brooks. You know this is a heavy groove, when you
listen the very first time and get goosebumps....It's
like pulling into a gas station in your tricked out
Mercedes off Ventura Blvd. On your way to a swingers 
parfe and your pumping your own gas at $3.50 a gallon.
You can afford it! It's cool. That's what this Joey De
CD does to you. Step back and take off your Franchinni
sunglasses and ponder... Since it's later and the
party goes all night, you want to check out The Baked
Potato for the last set . And hey Babe, don't lose the
thin leather sport coat it's cool this time a year  in
L.A., just before the fire season , the smoke filled
basin and the rockin & rollin Santa Ana's! 
And Joey De will take you there, at no extra cost with
'Organic Vibes,' even if you don't have a ticket.

ROY HARGROVE       NOTHING SERIOUS             Verve
Music
Roy Hargrove moves with understated elegance through 
acoustic post modern bop and equally in various Latin
adaptations to his lyricism and approach.  Here he has
the support of the great Slide Hampton and Justin
Robinson on saxophone.  This in many ways inspires a
memory of an earlier CD with J.J. Johnson and that
robust Sextet sound.       Whether  he plays  trumpet
or fluglehorn, Hargrove becomes the man, immediately
into the mind set.  A strong key is  his rendition on
“Trust' as much of the work on this CD reminds me of
Chet Baker's release. “Baby Breeze.” In fact, thats
the Roy Hargrove romance and his versatility. There's
another more electric side to this man, THE RH FACTOR
that's for another time.

MCHY MANO      THE COOL SIDE OF THE PILLOW    Justin
Time/Enja Records
Moroccan Michy Mano offers up his eclectic to Oslo
audiences, a sound that'll remind
you of Herbie Mann, Shahib Shihab, Charles Lloyd, Ravi
Shankar. It's joyful to shake your hips and move
around a French Moroccan , English Candide. Get ready
to roll into 
Tangiers some wild night as vibrant Arab/ Greek
beauties dance around you and through you  as a Bendik
Hofseth saxophone adds a Pharoah Sanders touch and
keyboards programming of Bugge Wesseltoft add still
another layer and a cadence of  chants with Michy Mano
exulting in a Sting vocal style. This could last for
hours for you can't get enough of Michy Mano and that
saxophone wail on “Bangosafi.”
This will certainly cut and add a blush through the
crystalline presence of a wintry morning in Oslo.

NANCY KING   LIVE AT THE JAZZ STANDARD WITH FRED
HERSCH
MAXJAZZ
This is what jazz singing is really about. Nancy King
has a rare vocal range able to ground  down to natural
depths and up to a level of honesty that Carmen McRae
and Chet Baker in his early years, could achieve in
their early years ,superseding the singer to a level
of musicianship with in this case Fred Hersch, who is
one the great jazz pianists of the day with his
extraordinary flex to adapt and carry on a stimulating
conversation especially with a vocalist,  the tempo
and style with Ms King. On “Four” she sings both parts
all by herself, each in a different personality. (She
must be a Gemini.)
She's able to tell a different story with each song
we've heard before, but not quite like this... King
Pleasure is listening.

JIM ROTONDI                  IRON MAN                 
  Criss Cross Jazz
Rotondi has the range, soul and chops for hard bop,
certain to take you back and move you onto the vast
stretches  of  deep post modern bop  territory. And
this band is perfect for the safari, with Jackie
McLean protege, Jimmie Greene who learned his lessons
well with a free open style of a Hank Mobley. 
Vibraphonist  Steve Nelson  explores the inner 
batteries of lost ancient cities of Lem Winchester,
and Milt Jackson and those who dare to step in the
space.   A final repor goes to Doug Weiss, bass and
drummer Bil Stewart.
There's so much subtlety and texture, that it's so
much fun to listen to here. Rotondi's  technique and
control on “Embraceable You”  is superlative. 

CASSANDRA  WILSON      THUNDERBIRD       Blue Note
This is a different Cassandra, a many fold Cassandra,
bountiful contempo  Cassandra. 
“Closer To You” sounds mid eastern,  that's what's
special about this, a world blend as Metheny would do,
 Cassandra is moving onto new excursions and yet down
to the blues on “EasyRider” with classic slide guitar
of Colin Linden on the hot  traditional “Red River
Valley. Wilson's vocal version here is reminiscent
somewhat of Sheila Jordan's version of “You Are My
Sunshine,” some forty years ago, different  cadence
same effect, reverential to  the traditional.  Willie
Dixon's  'I Want To Be Loved' is done here with
Cassandra singing it all nice, slow and low. She
writes a lot of the material on this CD.  This is a
many fold omnifarious Cassandra  Wilson.
Then she sings “Lost” accompanied by Marc Ribot and
she'll romance you with a personal message- an Edith
Piaf repose .  

BRAD GOODE         HYPNOTIC SUGGESTION         
Delmark Records
Chicago trumpet player Brad Goode , well schooled in
the arts of jazz and  other musical art forms, prefers
to remain in the mid west with a sound reminiscent of
the jazz masters, Gillespie, Farmer, especially on
muted horn in 'Once Upon A Summertime.' This HYPNOTIC
SUGGESTION is a valued part of the post bop mainstream
as Goode's technique is rival to everyone who's made
this horn their own. Adrean Farrugia's piano dances
around a boogie on Monk's 'Bemsha Swing.' as Goode
spouts out the changes with grace and elocution,
curling around the notes with speed and framing as the
rhythm section sticks out with the precision and power
in Kelly Sill's bass and Dana Hall's drums. Of course,
what brings it home is 'Detroit Scene' a 'Hasting
Street Bounce,' a. k.a. Donald Byrd, proving Goode
really knows his stuff and that seals it for me.

KARRIN ALLYSON           FOOTPRINTS         Concord
Records
Allyson has chosen jazz classics teaming with Chris
Caswell's inventive lyrics “Con Alma,” Adderley's
“Never say No” with Nancy King's support vocals along
with the great Jon Hendricks songs and whistling on
'Strollin.'  Then Hank Mobley's straight ahead blues
bop, “The Turnaround” with sage Bruce Barth, Ken
Washington and Todd Strait, drums. Then there's a
perfect harmony with Nancy King on Caswell's lyrics on
a soaring version of  Wayne Shorter's “Footprints.”
Horns are added when necessary to this magical
souffle.  Then a smooth “Jordu” with Nancy King
sitting in with Karrin Allyson  with lots of space to
jam. And the tone poem elegy, 'A Tree And me, '
written by Oscar Brown Jr..  The neo bop influence
comes to fore in Sam Jones “Give Me A Break,” again
with Chris Caswell's hip lyrics. This music  is rife
with Robert Altman and John Cassavetes symbolism.  
Allyson's voice has that lonesome pining.  Then it
closes with a Lambert Hendriks & Ross , Everybody's
Boppin'. If you haven't yet, then listen to this
special album it's a fresh look at post hard boppin.

ERIN  McDOUGALD       MEETING PLACE      Flapper Girl
Productions
The mystique of the Jazz singer is one who's traveled
the road to perdition and rose from the depths to a
sort  of Sainthood, or at least a late thirties woman
whose loved and lost, blanched in satin blue, Billy
Holiday, Edit Piaf, Elis Regina, anon. Some have it,
that fragility, that empathy in their voice. Dinah
Washington comes to mind.  Some  moderns do too. 
This young lady, Erin McDougald has that emotional
empathy for us, the lost, tentative post modern, or at
least those of us who empathize with our own pathos in
solitude.   Laura Nyro had that high Irish lyrical
quality that would strap Odysseus to the mast
howling... Erin McDougald has this rare quality as
well. So  lets demystify the notion that this young
lady is down and out cold, a ruination of life's bad
compass, although she can certainly portray one as a 
discombobulated waif in Bob Dorough's “Small Day
Tomorrow.” The closest,  Ms McDougald could best
portray a heroine in a 21st century  F. Scott
Fitzgerald novella as in her original, “Sing me The
Blues.”  It's apparent in this CD with her her
renditions of such classics as “No Moon At All,” “Thou
Swell,” a jitterbug scamp on “Slow Boat To China,” and
intimate foray with bass player, Clark Sommers on
“What's New.” And the very profound feminine
influential notion in “I'm The Girl.” Only a woman who
loves really knows...
There's another very important influence here, the Dan
Cray trio, also one of Chicago's fine young talents.
Erin McDougald and Dan Cray trio are about to achieve
what many young artists covet, international stardom.
Those jazz artist who stick to their guns and keep
resurrect ing the music. 
Mark my words, MEETING PLACE  will note a break
through CD for Erin McDougald. As her repertoire
expands, MEETING PLACE will be the one that'll
introduce this lady to international prominence.  And
Dan Cray will be there as well. That's why this  Erin
McDougald  MEETING PLACE is so special.

AVISHAI  COHEN         CONTINUO        RAZDAZ
/Sunnyside Records
Avishai Cohen performs with this trio as a glove of
prominence with mid eastern flavors on certain
selections supplied by Amos Hoffman on oud.  This trio
with Sam Barsh, piano and  Mark Guiliana on drums,  as
coalesced into one  with a sound so well conceived and
structured almost as if the selections were classical
with various time signatures, that allows barogue to
swing, a structure conceived as Brubeck has done in
the past.  Everyone except Brubeck is duly noted on
the jacket as an influence, Monk, Mozart, Beethoven, 
Mingus, Jaco Pastorious and Stevie Wonder.  But
there's seemingly a Brubeck influence here, “One For
Mark.” “Ani Mammin,” “Samuel” with short structured 
modal cadences with point /counter point reparte' 
that's spirited, warm and inviting throughout.  Final
call on the title, “Contiuo”  features Cohen on six
string electric bass in harmony then counter measure
with Hoffman on oud as they they all join in to  a
joyous conclusion with hand claps

ANOUAR  BRAHEM        LE VOYAGE DE SAHAR     ECM
Anouar Brahem born in Tunisia and studied under master
oudist, Ali Sriti, settled in Paris, imbued with the
subtleties of Arab classical music with an interest in
the  endless freedom  all encompassing modern jazz 
has offer collaborated with French pianist, Francois
Couturier and Jean-Louis Matinier,  accordion. Once
you get used to the pacing of this music, it'll seduce
you like a tantra massage, slow, seductive and endless
of smoky nights in Paris cafes, or Sundays at the
Louvre, flamenco,  Gabor Szabo and a flow of endless
boulevards, quiet summer streams of browns and blues
with shades of burnt orange and subtle yellow.  This
music is contemplative and will move you  to
eclecticism, especially with Brahem's  oud playing as
you more than listen to appreciate his expert tone,
touch and assimilate.

MARK ELF             LIFTOFF                JenBay
Jazz
Mark Elf keeps the flame of bebop  burning for the way
jazz guitar should be played.  There's no shuck & jive
here. You listen to this and think you're just outside
a 52nd street bar with Tal Farlow inside, for Elf is
always crisp and clear with his intent. “Chuy's
Challenge,” Fundingsland Waltz” and “Left Hand
Corner”as so much of this music aso straight ahead
positive swing with a blues feel. Let's give all the
credit due to this marvelous rhythm section of Dave
Hazeltine, piano, Peter Washington, bass and Lewis
Nash, drums. These are pros who know the score.
Elf does a number or two on the baritone guitar which
has that Roy Orbison feel if jazz was Orbison it would
work here. And the Bob Hope theme song “Thanks...,
that Elf connects with nostalgia to the degree of post
modern. There must be an equation here. (There's
nothing on my keyboard for 'Pie R Square.')
Go with me on this fantasy....I'm in New York City and
have my fill of exotic aperitif /Park Avenue hype and
decide to bounce for some good  upper West Side
barbecue to a no frills bop club and check these guys
out. 
I'm going home licking my fingers with a smile on my
face!

THE MILES DAVIS QUINTET     THE LEGENDARY PRESTIGE
QUINTET SESSIONS         Prestige/Concord Jazz
A historical significance would be to put it mildy on
the importance of these sessions. Especially, when you
hear Steve Allen's opening remarks on the Tonight Show
1955 performance. And this is open mike, very
extemporaneous experience with Allen's comments,
Mile's extempore playing, thus a connection with early
days of television and  free blowing hard bop.  
This is what that era vividly portrays, that many
today's  musicians covet, that TEVO can't really
capture because TV today is highly choreographed and
disengaged with reality.
The fifties and sixties were significant  for the
great changes in all of pop and literate culture. Of
course we smoked more cigarettes and ate more meat and
potatoes in those days, and as I look back to '99' and
my fortieth high school reunion, more of my class
mates had coronary by pass surgery, then earlier
generations.   
I'm not quite sure what that means...
The significance is this remarkable collection re
introduced with classic art work and packaging.
Concord has vaults loaded with this stuff on Chet
Baker, Bill Evans and Monk, so be sure to be
entertained with more in the far reaching future.
Here I thought this would never fly, that dust would
collect these archives, but young folks when exposed,
tune into this music.
PS I find this music to be relaxing like Mozart ...for
your plants and animals.

EDDIE DANIELS QUARTET      MEAN WHAT YOU SAY       IPO
Records
Eddie Daniels is one of the best  reed players on the
Planet! There,  I said it!  Because it's ****** true.
Just listen to this CD as he plays clarinet and tenor
sax and remember Artie Shaw and Bennie Goodman and
James Moody for their forthright accommodations.
That's what makes this a real treat for you have
something to think about and standard by which to
judge. 
“It Had To Be You” is a family favorite and Daniels
makes it his own as you will attest at closing time as
“Passion Flower,””Nagasaki”and”Why You.
Eddie Daniels is backed by an incredible group, known
for it's commitment and growth.
Hank Jones, piano, Richard Davis, baa and Kenny
Washington, drums. Then you'll commit when Daniels
sings on tenor “You And The Night And The Music.”

ERIC  REED        HERE      MAXJAZZ
Pianist Eric Reed revives the tradition of the
muscular player,the likes of  Wynton Kelly on this new
CD in his name. This is hard bop , finest, as it is
told in bold print by this young talented player.
There's no shuck and jive here for this is absolute
full blown performance. There's a reason that real
hard core  boppers like to play with this man as
evident here on this new one, especially on  “I.C.H.N.
(For Herbie Nichols) and when the man says 'yeah' off
mike you know it's all true. There's so much 'stuff
'happening here that's been heard ions before in your
and my own time warp to the present, that Charles
Dickens  most certainly would've been a jazz singer as
there's so much soul here with Eric Reed, truth,
honesty and the American way. Always nice when a
musician has it all notion in view, or a better way
has his **** together!

JOHN MOULDER         TRINITY      Origin Records
 Moulder weaves an interesting conception  throughout
TRINITY with writing that's clean and minimalist, yet
antithetical with  a variety of surprising diverse
moods. You may be surprised by his marvelous talent
and maybe not.   Moulder shows excellent arranging in
diverse  structures as  Octet, septet, sextet, quintet
and duets with some fine musicians as Paul McCandless,
 Jim Gailloreto, Laurence Hob good, Brad Wheeler, who
really kicks with the band , a  crazy hard bop
celebration, right in the middle on “Proclamation Of
The Unexpected.” At times, it  can be pastoral, other
times nocturnal and then “Sorrowful Mysteries” comes
into play here, sounding like a  theme  of “Eyes Wide
Shut,” subtly porno graphic with winds of pathos and
joy behind this well consceived autocratic view that
we all right here and most apply represented here
especially in a  short and most powerful raucous  fate
of “Freedom,” as written here.


Dick Crockett
“The Voice”   88.7fm
4623 T Street, Suite A
Sacramento, Ca. 95819-4743

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