CHRISTIAN McBRIDE & INSIDE STRAIGHT - Live At The Village Vanguard
Mack Avenue Records: MAC 1192
Christian McBride (bass) Steve Wilson (alto & soprano saxophones) Warren Wolf (vibes) Peter Martin (piano) Carl Allen (drums) Recorded on location at The Village Vanguard, New York, December 5th to 7th 2014.
Arguably the most accomplished bass player of his generation Christian McBride has through manifold musical encounters imbibed many contemporary influences of the funk, fusion and soul variety yet remains firmly rooted in the solid jazz tradition and deserves to be regarded as the natural heir to players like Ray Brown and a devotee of acoustic swing and hard-bop modes. His quintet `Inside Straight`, a name Cannonball Adderley used for one of his albums, was formed in 2007 to enable him to keep in touch with these roots and this is their third recording, the first before a live audience. The previous albums were `Kind of Brown` (2009) and `People Music` (2013) and the pieces they perform in this Village Vanguard set are largely drawn from those recordings. Being live performances they differ markedly in realisation being looser and longer giving the soloists plenty of space to expand their ideas and whip up audience fervour, so those who possess the earlier discs needn’t be put off, thinking they’re just going to get a bunch of alternative takes.
Though the music swings mightily it is not entirely shorn of its eloquent embellishments and introspective touches. Having Wolf’s pellucid vibes work available to temper the heat of Wilson’s sax adds extra dimensions and with Peter Martin now firmly established as the group’s piano man the ensemble coheres in a slick, purposeful alliance that exudes professional flair. No sloppy jam session this, but plenty of tension building moments to raise the temperature. There are many memorable moments especially the final track `Stick and Move` which in this iteration becomes a bass ‘n drum vehicle and a demonstration of amazing dexterity and inventiveness on the part of McBride and Allen -a real showstopper. Other highlights are Warren Wolf’s tune `Gang Gang` with its MJQ delicacies prodded into potency by some dangerously virile drumming. A more introspective flavour is introduced with Steve Wilson performing his musical tribute to Maya Angelou on his soprano which he takes up again in a rendition of `Uncle James`, an elegant McBride original that also provides fluent opportunities for vibes and piano. All the tunes are from either Wolf, Wilson and the leader and though it might have been nice to have a standard thrown in as a bench marker the band draw plenty of inspiration from these self -penned themes and from the audience response there can be no doubt that `Inside Straight` hit the spot.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon
Mack Avenue Records: MAC 1192
Christian McBride (bass) Steve Wilson (alto & soprano saxophones) Warren Wolf (vibes) Peter Martin (piano) Carl Allen (drums) Recorded on location at The Village Vanguard, New York, December 5th to 7th 2014.
Arguably the most accomplished bass player of his generation Christian McBride has through manifold musical encounters imbibed many contemporary influences of the funk, fusion and soul variety yet remains firmly rooted in the solid jazz tradition and deserves to be regarded as the natural heir to players like Ray Brown and a devotee of acoustic swing and hard-bop modes. His quintet `Inside Straight`, a name Cannonball Adderley used for one of his albums, was formed in 2007 to enable him to keep in touch with these roots and this is their third recording, the first before a live audience. The previous albums were `Kind of Brown` (2009) and `People Music` (2013) and the pieces they perform in this Village Vanguard set are largely drawn from those recordings. Being live performances they differ markedly in realisation being looser and longer giving the soloists plenty of space to expand their ideas and whip up audience fervour, so those who possess the earlier discs needn’t be put off, thinking they’re just going to get a bunch of alternative takes.
Though the music swings mightily it is not entirely shorn of its eloquent embellishments and introspective touches. Having Wolf’s pellucid vibes work available to temper the heat of Wilson’s sax adds extra dimensions and with Peter Martin now firmly established as the group’s piano man the ensemble coheres in a slick, purposeful alliance that exudes professional flair. No sloppy jam session this, but plenty of tension building moments to raise the temperature. There are many memorable moments especially the final track `Stick and Move` which in this iteration becomes a bass ‘n drum vehicle and a demonstration of amazing dexterity and inventiveness on the part of McBride and Allen -a real showstopper. Other highlights are Warren Wolf’s tune `Gang Gang` with its MJQ delicacies prodded into potency by some dangerously virile drumming. A more introspective flavour is introduced with Steve Wilson performing his musical tribute to Maya Angelou on his soprano which he takes up again in a rendition of `Uncle James`, an elegant McBride original that also provides fluent opportunities for vibes and piano. All the tunes are from either Wolf, Wilson and the leader and though it might have been nice to have a standard thrown in as a bench marker the band draw plenty of inspiration from these self -penned themes and from the audience response there can be no doubt that `Inside Straight` hit the spot.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon
