JEREMY LEDBETTER TRIO - Got A Light?
ALMA RECORDS ACD 1582
Jeremy Ledbetter (p); Rich Brown (b); Larnell Lewis (d)
Recrded Toronto, Canada, no dates listed
The Ledbetter Trio is a mix of jazz fusion and rock with the leader on piano, Brown on electric bass and Lewis offering rock style drumming. The opening track features the leader in lively mode with bassist Brown taking a solo in the upper register. The title track, Got A Light is a repetitive vamp for piano with very rockiish drumming throughout. All except one of the selections here are by the leader although I have to say they are not distinguished pieces but, rather, simple frameworks for improvising on. There is an uncredited piano accordion player on track three, Her New Wings, unless it is Ledbetter changing instruments. The insistent melody is quite interesting. This piece also features an attractive vocal by Eliana Cuevas with backing vocals by Leila Ledbetter.
About Climbing Mountains, the fifth track is again rather repetitive with the pianist leader seemingly unsure where he wants to go and ultimately getting himself fenced in with a simple phrase repeated over and over. Suspirito is a warm ballad and the best track on the CD. A slow, lyrical piano introduction gives way to a gentle, swaying Latin styled rhythm which continues throughout. Ledbetter’s piano solo here is far more inventive than on any other piece and his tone is bright. Guest musician Reimundo Sosa plays bata drum on this selection only but his low level, thrusting rhythms contribute in no small measure to the success of the composition.
Gift Shop is a rather noodling melody in which Ledbetter never seems to get much further than the simple opening phrase. Overall this record seems to suffer by trying to be too many things to too many people. A more straight ahead approach and a couple of recognisable standards included in the programme might have helped considerably.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
ALMA RECORDS ACD 1582
Jeremy Ledbetter (p); Rich Brown (b); Larnell Lewis (d)
Recrded Toronto, Canada, no dates listed
The Ledbetter Trio is a mix of jazz fusion and rock with the leader on piano, Brown on electric bass and Lewis offering rock style drumming. The opening track features the leader in lively mode with bassist Brown taking a solo in the upper register. The title track, Got A Light is a repetitive vamp for piano with very rockiish drumming throughout. All except one of the selections here are by the leader although I have to say they are not distinguished pieces but, rather, simple frameworks for improvising on. There is an uncredited piano accordion player on track three, Her New Wings, unless it is Ledbetter changing instruments. The insistent melody is quite interesting. This piece also features an attractive vocal by Eliana Cuevas with backing vocals by Leila Ledbetter.
About Climbing Mountains, the fifth track is again rather repetitive with the pianist leader seemingly unsure where he wants to go and ultimately getting himself fenced in with a simple phrase repeated over and over. Suspirito is a warm ballad and the best track on the CD. A slow, lyrical piano introduction gives way to a gentle, swaying Latin styled rhythm which continues throughout. Ledbetter’s piano solo here is far more inventive than on any other piece and his tone is bright. Guest musician Reimundo Sosa plays bata drum on this selection only but his low level, thrusting rhythms contribute in no small measure to the success of the composition.
Gift Shop is a rather noodling melody in which Ledbetter never seems to get much further than the simple opening phrase. Overall this record seems to suffer by trying to be too many things to too many people. A more straight ahead approach and a couple of recognisable standards included in the programme might have helped considerably.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
