CHRIS BYARS - The Music of Duke Jordan
Steeplechase Records: SCCD 31787
Chris Byars (alto sax) Stefano Doglioni (bass clarinet) John Mosca (trombone) Pasquale Grasso ( guitar) Ari Roland (bass) Stephan Schatz ( drums) Yaala Ballin (vocals) Janita Byars (clarinet) Mine Sadrazam (piano)
No recording dates or location given.
Chris Byars seems to making something of career of celebrating the work jazz personalities whose legacy is in danger of falling into obscurity. Past projects have included Gigi Gryce, Freddie Redd, and Lucky Thompson ; all significant figures but who are easily overlooked as claims on our attention are made by succeeding generations of musicians and their stylistic innovations.
The music of Duke Jordan is surely worthy of re-appraisal and when it is refurbished and re-interpreted as creatively as it is here it emerges as much more than a trip down memory lane but serves as inspirational source material upon which to build a new musical edifice. Given, his pioneering work with Charlie Parker and his later work with Blue Note Records, Jordan should have achieved more exposure whereas he is principally remembered as the composer of the classic Bop anthem, `Jordu`. This is partly explained by his decision to relocate to Denmark in the late seventies and though he became a Steeplechase Records stalwart cutting as many as thirty albums for the label he rather stepped out of the `big label` spotlight.
This release presents versions of eleven of his themes mostly conceived after his move to Denmark: all display an easy melodic ambience with some familiar tunes lurking in their chord structures and thanks to mellow front line instrumentation and the employment of a guitarist rather than a piano to supply the underlying harmony Byars arrangements caress the ear with a warm silkiness that veers more towards mainstream symmetry than bop spikiness. Solo wise Byars comes over as an altoist who combines the soft focus lyricism of say Hal McKusick with the inventive vitality of Phil Woods and by partnering with a bass clarinet and trombone he achieves a stimulating diversity of timbre in the solo passages and sonic depth in the ensemble work. Other solo voices are provided by the guitar and bass, played arco on occasions, and two of the tunes feature vocalist Yaala Ballin singing lyrics of her own creation; add to this piquant sound stage the leader’s mother on clarinet – herself a distinguished orchestral player –in an exquisite chamber jazz interpretation of one of Jordan’s more impressionistic pieces and you have a delightfully varied disc of music that honours the composer whilst rewarding the discerning listener.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon
Steeplechase Records: SCCD 31787
Chris Byars (alto sax) Stefano Doglioni (bass clarinet) John Mosca (trombone) Pasquale Grasso ( guitar) Ari Roland (bass) Stephan Schatz ( drums) Yaala Ballin (vocals) Janita Byars (clarinet) Mine Sadrazam (piano)
No recording dates or location given.
Chris Byars seems to making something of career of celebrating the work jazz personalities whose legacy is in danger of falling into obscurity. Past projects have included Gigi Gryce, Freddie Redd, and Lucky Thompson ; all significant figures but who are easily overlooked as claims on our attention are made by succeeding generations of musicians and their stylistic innovations.
The music of Duke Jordan is surely worthy of re-appraisal and when it is refurbished and re-interpreted as creatively as it is here it emerges as much more than a trip down memory lane but serves as inspirational source material upon which to build a new musical edifice. Given, his pioneering work with Charlie Parker and his later work with Blue Note Records, Jordan should have achieved more exposure whereas he is principally remembered as the composer of the classic Bop anthem, `Jordu`. This is partly explained by his decision to relocate to Denmark in the late seventies and though he became a Steeplechase Records stalwart cutting as many as thirty albums for the label he rather stepped out of the `big label` spotlight.
This release presents versions of eleven of his themes mostly conceived after his move to Denmark: all display an easy melodic ambience with some familiar tunes lurking in their chord structures and thanks to mellow front line instrumentation and the employment of a guitarist rather than a piano to supply the underlying harmony Byars arrangements caress the ear with a warm silkiness that veers more towards mainstream symmetry than bop spikiness. Solo wise Byars comes over as an altoist who combines the soft focus lyricism of say Hal McKusick with the inventive vitality of Phil Woods and by partnering with a bass clarinet and trombone he achieves a stimulating diversity of timbre in the solo passages and sonic depth in the ensemble work. Other solo voices are provided by the guitar and bass, played arco on occasions, and two of the tunes feature vocalist Yaala Ballin singing lyrics of her own creation; add to this piquant sound stage the leader’s mother on clarinet – herself a distinguished orchestral player –in an exquisite chamber jazz interpretation of one of Jordan’s more impressionistic pieces and you have a delightfully varied disc of music that honours the composer whilst rewarding the discerning listener.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon
