NAT STEELE- Portrait of the Modern Jazz Quartet
Trio Records TR598
Nat Steele (vibraphone) Gabriel Latchin (piano) Dario Di Lecce (bass) Steve Brown (drums)
Recorded 14th October 2016 at Master Chord Studios U.K
To launch his career as a recording artist London based vibraphonist, Nat Steele has chosen to demonstrate his formidable self -tutored talent via the medium of a tribute the Modern Jazz Quartet and being by his own admission a `straight ahead` player with a liking for the be-bop school he presents a programme of nine standards and original signature pieces from the pioneering group’s earlier years. He is joined in this enterprise by a trio of equally talented collaborators, all sporting impressive C.V.s: of these Steve Brown will be familiar to most readers through his sterling work on the British scene with visiting Americans like Scott Hamilton. He is well known as a drummer of reliable, understated technique who, one imagines, is welcome at every session he turns up to.
Together, Steele and his band reprise such favourites as `Django`, `Bags Groove` and `Woody ‘N You ‘and invest them with an effervescence that is captured to perfection by the crystal clear recording. Their interpretations play down the MJQ’s chamber music conceits ever so slightly emphasising the flat out swing that Milt Jackson brought to the party (this is particularly evident in their treatment of `The Golden Striker`) and in this respect they veer close to the sound of that other vibes/piano led group, the fiesty `Mastersounds`. Importantly Steele doesn’t attempt to re-imagine the music through some post-modern filter. Nothing is pulled out of shape; everything is recognisable albeit spruced up and powered with fresh batteries.
Some fans I know question the raison`d etre of tribute bands but when the classic jazz repertoire is re-visited with the eloquence and interpretive integrity on display here who wouldn’t want to hear it again.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon
Trio Records TR598
Nat Steele (vibraphone) Gabriel Latchin (piano) Dario Di Lecce (bass) Steve Brown (drums)
Recorded 14th October 2016 at Master Chord Studios U.K
To launch his career as a recording artist London based vibraphonist, Nat Steele has chosen to demonstrate his formidable self -tutored talent via the medium of a tribute the Modern Jazz Quartet and being by his own admission a `straight ahead` player with a liking for the be-bop school he presents a programme of nine standards and original signature pieces from the pioneering group’s earlier years. He is joined in this enterprise by a trio of equally talented collaborators, all sporting impressive C.V.s: of these Steve Brown will be familiar to most readers through his sterling work on the British scene with visiting Americans like Scott Hamilton. He is well known as a drummer of reliable, understated technique who, one imagines, is welcome at every session he turns up to.
Together, Steele and his band reprise such favourites as `Django`, `Bags Groove` and `Woody ‘N You ‘and invest them with an effervescence that is captured to perfection by the crystal clear recording. Their interpretations play down the MJQ’s chamber music conceits ever so slightly emphasising the flat out swing that Milt Jackson brought to the party (this is particularly evident in their treatment of `The Golden Striker`) and in this respect they veer close to the sound of that other vibes/piano led group, the fiesty `Mastersounds`. Importantly Steele doesn’t attempt to re-imagine the music through some post-modern filter. Nothing is pulled out of shape; everything is recognisable albeit spruced up and powered with fresh batteries.
Some fans I know question the raison`d etre of tribute bands but when the classic jazz repertoire is re-visited with the eloquence and interpretive integrity on display here who wouldn’t want to hear it again.
Reviewed by Euan Dixon
