KENNY KOTWITZ & THE LA JAZZ QUINTET - When Lights Are Low
PM Records (No number listed)
Kenny Kowitz (acc & celeste); John Chiodini (elg); Nick Mancini (vib); Chuck Berghofer (b); Kendall Kaye (d)
Recorded in California.
Not too many jazz musician leaders play accordion. Think of Art Van Damme and Jack Emblow here in the UK and then you run out of names. This CD was set up as a tribute to the late Van Damme by a Canadian accordion player named Peter Maxymych who used to play Canadian Ski resorts and loved the playing of his hero. He had to find the right man to lead this ensemble and did so with Kenny Kowitz, a professional accordion player who also admired Van Damme. This is a low- key session with virtually every track played at slow tempo. With a selection of well- known and much- loved standards on offer, it works well as a ballad programme, played slowly with an unusual ensemble sound. This is the slowest When Lights Are Low I have ever heard but it works with this line up. Kowitz takes the lead off solo with guitar and vibes providing the harmony and this is the format for most selections. Occasionally guitar or vibes go out front first, for variety but all pieces are played as slow burners. Cry Me A River has a good ensemble sound and an inventive solo from Kotwitz on accordion. All these tracks benefit from solid, flowing rhythm from veteran bassist Berghofer and the accurate time keeping of drummer Kendall Kaye.
Darn That Dream works well as a very slow ballad and so does Polka Dots although it might have been a good idea to offer at least one or two up-tempo tunes for variety. As an extremely slow burn, relaxed session with some very compatible musicians fusing together, this is an unusual but enjoyable record. And after the first two tracks you may well find that the accordion, guitar, vibes front line does not sound so unusual. Ideal for relaxed, late night listening or those times when you want peaceful but inventive jazz playing in the background.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
PM Records (No number listed)
Kenny Kowitz (acc & celeste); John Chiodini (elg); Nick Mancini (vib); Chuck Berghofer (b); Kendall Kaye (d)
Recorded in California.
Not too many jazz musician leaders play accordion. Think of Art Van Damme and Jack Emblow here in the UK and then you run out of names. This CD was set up as a tribute to the late Van Damme by a Canadian accordion player named Peter Maxymych who used to play Canadian Ski resorts and loved the playing of his hero. He had to find the right man to lead this ensemble and did so with Kenny Kowitz, a professional accordion player who also admired Van Damme. This is a low- key session with virtually every track played at slow tempo. With a selection of well- known and much- loved standards on offer, it works well as a ballad programme, played slowly with an unusual ensemble sound. This is the slowest When Lights Are Low I have ever heard but it works with this line up. Kowitz takes the lead off solo with guitar and vibes providing the harmony and this is the format for most selections. Occasionally guitar or vibes go out front first, for variety but all pieces are played as slow burners. Cry Me A River has a good ensemble sound and an inventive solo from Kotwitz on accordion. All these tracks benefit from solid, flowing rhythm from veteran bassist Berghofer and the accurate time keeping of drummer Kendall Kaye.
Darn That Dream works well as a very slow ballad and so does Polka Dots although it might have been a good idea to offer at least one or two up-tempo tunes for variety. As an extremely slow burn, relaxed session with some very compatible musicians fusing together, this is an unusual but enjoyable record. And after the first two tracks you may well find that the accordion, guitar, vibes front line does not sound so unusual. Ideal for relaxed, late night listening or those times when you want peaceful but inventive jazz playing in the background.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
