John Patitucci: On the Corner (1989)- (New Link)

John Patitucci: On the corner

Label: GRP Records 

Year: 1989

Track Title
1. On the corner
2. Avenue "D"
3. Venetian moonlight
4. A better mousetrap
5. Vaya con dios
6. Kingstone blues
7. Painting
8. Strength to the weak
9. Flatbush ave
10. The storyteller
11. Bertha's bop

Credits

Bass - John Patitucci
Drums - Al Foster (tracks: 3, 11) , Alex Acuna* (tracks: 5, 7) , Vinnie Colaiuta (tracks: 2, 6, 10)
Drums, Percussion - Dave Weckl (tracks: 1, 4, 8, 9)
Electronics - Judd Miller (tracks: 1, 9)
Guitar - Paul Jackson Jr. (tracks: 6)
Percussion - Jay Oliver (tracks: 4)
Piano - Chick Corea (tracks: 3, 11)
Piano, Synthesizer - John Beasley (tracks: 1, 2, 7 to 10)
Saxophone [Soprano] - Eric Marienthal (tracks: 6)
Saxophone [Tenor] - Kirk Whalum (tracks: 8) , Michael Brecker (tracks: 2)
Synthesizer - David Witham (tracks: 1 to 10)
Vocals - Alfie Silas (tracks: 6) , Howard McCrary (tracks: 6) , Phyllis St. James (tracks: 6) , Rick Riso (tracks: 6)

Dynamite bass work (as always), contemporary (but not "smooth", though not quite straight ahead either), stacked with excellent players: Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Al Foster, Dave Weckl, Alex Acuna, Vinnie Colaiuta, Eric Marienthal, etc., each selected to contribute to the style and sound of particular songs. A good effort.

Eliane Elias: Brazilian Classics (2003)

Elias: Brazilian Classics (2003)

Now that longtime Blue Note pianist/singer Eliane Elias has left the label for RCA/Bluebird, several compilations of her work are being released, including the present item, Brazilian Classics. A cynic might note “just in time for Christmas,” but even if its release is motivated mainly by marketing concerns, the CD provides a useful, focused troll through Elias’s back catalogue. Although Elias has ranged far and wide in her recordings (which include hard bop, pop-jazz, and classical pieces), this is the music with which she is most associated— bossa/jazz classics from the songbooks of Jobim, Nascimento, and others from her native Brazil.
Elias is at home with this material and her piano work is muscular and confident. As such, the best tracks on the album are the instrumentals that feature her in a trio setting, mostly with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Throughout punchy and inventive takes on “Passarium,” “One Note Samba,” and “Black Orpheus,” Elias goes toe-to-toe with the rhythm section, with exciting results. Her tendency to introduce subtle reharmonizations and rhythmic variations keeps these well-worn tunes from sounding like boring retreads.

Somewhat less successful are the tracks featuring her vocals. While her thin yet husky delivery is appropriately unstudied on Só Danço Samba,” it can’t quite carry “Chega De Saudade” or “Girl From Ipanema” convincingly. Having Elias’s young daughter sing on “Ponta de Areia” was not the wisest of decisions either, bringing to mind, as it does, grade school recitals best left forgotten.

That said, however, Brazilian Classics is an appealing listen, thematically unified and impeccably produced. The hardcore jazz fan may do better with Elias’s Plays Jobim album, from which many of the best tracks with Gomez and DeJohnette are taken. But bossa nova fanatics, or maybe those wishing for a warm Brazilian breeze in the dead of winter, will enjoy this generous selection of Elias’s work.



Track Listing: Passarium; Chega De Saudade; Carioca Nights (Noites Cariocas); Garota De Ipanema (Girl From Ipanema); Milton Nascimento Medley; Waters Of March/Agua De Beber; One Note Samba; Crystal And Lace; Jazz 'N' Samba (So Danco Samba); Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil); Iluminados ; Jet Samba (Samba Do Aviao); Wave; Black Orpheus (Manha De Carnaval); Dindi; O Polichinelo (Clown)

Personnel: Eliane Elias, piano, vocals; various personnel including Eddie Gomez, Marc Johnson, bass; Jack DeJohnette, Peter Erskine, drums; Michael Brecker, sax; Cafe, percussion

Michael Brecker: Tales from the Hudson (1996)

MICHAEL BRECKER

Tales from the Hudson (1996)

Track listing

All tracks composed by Michael Brecker; except where indicated

   1. "Slings and Arrows" — 6:19
   2. "Midnight Voyage" (Joey Calderazzo) — 7:17
   3. "Song for Bilbao" (Pat Metheny) — 5:44
   4. "Beau Rivage" — 7:38
   5. "African Skies" — 8:12
   6. "Introduction to the Naked Soul" — 1:41
   7. "Naked Soul" — 8:43
   8. "Willie T." (Don Grolnick) — 8:13
   9. "Cabin Fever" — 6:59

Personnel

    * Michael Brecker — tenor saxophone
    * Pat Metheny — guitar, guitar synth
    * Joey Calderazzo — piano
    * Dave Holland — bass
    * Jack DeJohnette — drums
    * McCoy Tyner — piano (Tracks 3 and 5)
    * Don Alias — percussion


In the crowded field of excellent tenor players, Michael Brecker rises to the top of my list. I think the thing that gives Brecker an edge over the others is the fact that he is a master of so many genres of jazz. Many people are no doubt familiar with the electric, funky side of Michael Brecker as the co-leader of the Brecker Brothers and former member of Steps Ahead. He has done significant pop dates with Paul Simon, Carly Simon, and Joni Mitchell. One could easily fill a CD collection with albums on which he has performed as a sideman in many jazz contexts.

Yet this is only his fourth CD as a leader. All of them have been in the modern, progressive, straight-ahead jazz vein. This one is, to my ears, his most successful outing yet. I think the difference is that this one is a little less "progressive" or "outside." The melodies here are a little more accessible and memorable, yet the soloing is just as creative and adventuresome as we have come to expect from Brecker and the other jazz luminaries on this CD. The top-notch team of sidemen here are Pat Metheny on guitar, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Dave Holland on bass, and Joey Calderazzo on piano. Pianist McCoy Tyner and percussionist Don Alias are added on two tunes.

Six of the nine compositions are Brecker's. They are varied, thoughtful, and provide great vehicles for improvisation. Metheny contributes "Bilbao" from his Travels album, Calderazzo contributes a medium tempo swinger, and "Willie T." comes from the late pianist Don Grolnick, who produced Brecker's first two solo albums and performed with Brecker frequently.

I would especially recommend this album to those who have come to jazz through the "new adult comtemporary" door and are ready to take the next step towards discovering what real jazz is all about.