ALEX CONDE - Descarga For Bud
SEDAJAZZ RECORDS SJ107
Alex Conde (p); Jeff Chambers (b); Colin Douglas (d); Jorn Santos, Sergio Martinez, Jeff Narell (pc); Mike Olnos (t)
California February 21 & 22 2020.
The pianist here uses his regular combo of bass and drums to put a Spanish and Latin flavour on the music of Bud Powell. You might think you’ve heard all that can be done with these compositions but you would be wrong. It begins with a lesser known Powell piece The Fruit, here given a robust reading by the pianist with guest trumpeter Mike Olnos contributing some crisp, fiery, bold brass statements. Leader and trumpeter duet towards the end. Olnos also plays on Tempus Fugit later. Oblivion, which follows is a tango, of sorts and the familiar Bouncing With Bud is played hard and fast. This well known composition receives a flamenco rhythm. All very exotic and different but the pianist always keeps to the Powell melody whilst adding his own improvised variations.
Slowing the tempo down a little Dusk In Saudi, another lesser known Bud opus, is taken at ballad tempo with some nicely lyrical piano. Wail roars along as it did on Bud’s original with help from Sonny Rollins and Fats Navarro. Not quite in that league this performance has an attractive sound colour palette with Conde’s piano solos shadowed by Jeff Narell’s steel pan. Another favourite with Powell fans, Parisian Thoroughfare rips along at a fast tempo. Not as fast as Tempus Fugit though, that goes at supersonic speed. All of these selections have additional percussion instruments joining the basic rhythm section with congas, bongos, Cajun and djembe, not to mention the steel pan. It is a fresh approach to Powell’s classic library of music and allows the listener to hear the tracks in a slightly new light. We can only hope that listeners in general will not think that too many liberties have been taken with the master bopper’s music.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
SEDAJAZZ RECORDS SJ107
Alex Conde (p); Jeff Chambers (b); Colin Douglas (d); Jorn Santos, Sergio Martinez, Jeff Narell (pc); Mike Olnos (t)
California February 21 & 22 2020.
The pianist here uses his regular combo of bass and drums to put a Spanish and Latin flavour on the music of Bud Powell. You might think you’ve heard all that can be done with these compositions but you would be wrong. It begins with a lesser known Powell piece The Fruit, here given a robust reading by the pianist with guest trumpeter Mike Olnos contributing some crisp, fiery, bold brass statements. Leader and trumpeter duet towards the end. Olnos also plays on Tempus Fugit later. Oblivion, which follows is a tango, of sorts and the familiar Bouncing With Bud is played hard and fast. This well known composition receives a flamenco rhythm. All very exotic and different but the pianist always keeps to the Powell melody whilst adding his own improvised variations.
Slowing the tempo down a little Dusk In Saudi, another lesser known Bud opus, is taken at ballad tempo with some nicely lyrical piano. Wail roars along as it did on Bud’s original with help from Sonny Rollins and Fats Navarro. Not quite in that league this performance has an attractive sound colour palette with Conde’s piano solos shadowed by Jeff Narell’s steel pan. Another favourite with Powell fans, Parisian Thoroughfare rips along at a fast tempo. Not as fast as Tempus Fugit though, that goes at supersonic speed. All of these selections have additional percussion instruments joining the basic rhythm section with congas, bongos, Cajun and djembe, not to mention the steel pan. It is a fresh approach to Powell’s classic library of music and allows the listener to hear the tracks in a slightly new light. We can only hope that listeners in general will not think that too many liberties have been taken with the master bopper’s music.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
