KENNY DREW - Home Is Where The Soul Is
Xanadu Master Edition 906082
Kenny Drew ( pno ) Leroy Vinnegar ( bass ) Frank Butler ( drs )
Recorded California, 15 October 1978
Kenny Drew studied piano from the age of five and his main influences were Teddy Wilson, Fats Waller and Art Tatum but in later years as many young pianists did he became under the influence of Bud Powell.
In the nineteen fifties he played and recorded with many of the leading players of the day including Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and Charlie Parker and therefore built up a solid reputation.
In 1961 he moved to Europe first to Paris and in 1964 he moved to Copenhagen which became his home. In 1966 he formed a duo with bassist Niels Henning Orsed Pedersen and became the resident pianist at the Copenhagen Montmartre Jazzhaus.
During the next two decades he made many recordings with local musicians and visiting Americans which were often recorded at the club.
Fron the late nineteen seventies he devoted his time to studying composition and orchestration but he also found time to record back the States and made a number of fine recordings such as the one under review. On this album he is accompanied by to above average players, The best of the walking bass players Leroy Vinnegar and the superb drummer Frank Butlern and there is a good mixture of original material and tunes from the standard repertoire and included are three original compositions by Kenny Drew himself.
The album kicks off with Nat Adder ley’s “Work Song” which opens out of tempo but soon hit’s a groove and gains momentum has moves along.
After a rather flowery opening Ellington’s “Prelude To A kIss” becomes a beautiful reading of the tune.
“Three Or Four Blues” is up tempo and is a hard swinger with superb support fom Leroy Vinnegar and Frank Butler on of the most rewarding tracks on the album.
Kenny Drew’s aptly titled original composition “Ending” is the final track on the album and after a fairly dirge like opening it evolves into a beautiful tune.
Kenny Drew made a number of excellent piano albums for the steeplechase label whilst in Europe and this album certainly stands comparison.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Xanadu Master Edition 906082
Kenny Drew ( pno ) Leroy Vinnegar ( bass ) Frank Butler ( drs )
Recorded California, 15 October 1978
Kenny Drew studied piano from the age of five and his main influences were Teddy Wilson, Fats Waller and Art Tatum but in later years as many young pianists did he became under the influence of Bud Powell.
In the nineteen fifties he played and recorded with many of the leading players of the day including Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and Charlie Parker and therefore built up a solid reputation.
In 1961 he moved to Europe first to Paris and in 1964 he moved to Copenhagen which became his home. In 1966 he formed a duo with bassist Niels Henning Orsed Pedersen and became the resident pianist at the Copenhagen Montmartre Jazzhaus.
During the next two decades he made many recordings with local musicians and visiting Americans which were often recorded at the club.
Fron the late nineteen seventies he devoted his time to studying composition and orchestration but he also found time to record back the States and made a number of fine recordings such as the one under review. On this album he is accompanied by to above average players, The best of the walking bass players Leroy Vinnegar and the superb drummer Frank Butlern and there is a good mixture of original material and tunes from the standard repertoire and included are three original compositions by Kenny Drew himself.
The album kicks off with Nat Adder ley’s “Work Song” which opens out of tempo but soon hit’s a groove and gains momentum has moves along.
After a rather flowery opening Ellington’s “Prelude To A kIss” becomes a beautiful reading of the tune.
“Three Or Four Blues” is up tempo and is a hard swinger with superb support fom Leroy Vinnegar and Frank Butler on of the most rewarding tracks on the album.
Kenny Drew’s aptly titled original composition “Ending” is the final track on the album and after a fairly dirge like opening it evolves into a beautiful tune.
Kenny Drew made a number of excellent piano albums for the steeplechase label whilst in Europe and this album certainly stands comparison.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
