OZ NOY / UGONNA OKEGWO / RAY MARCHICA - Riverside
OIM 2201
Oz Noy (elg); Ugonna Okegwo (b); Ray Marchica (d)
Recorded Connecticut, October 2020.
Here we have a bright, bubbly trio playing s set of standards , the bulk of them associated with the beginnings of bebop. Five tracks are by, or associated with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and I include ‘Out of Nowhere,’ because those two pioneers often played it in the early days of bop. They kick off with ‘All The Things You Are,’ in upbeat, burgeoning mood. Noy plays a solo introduction and then brings in his rhythm players for a wild romp in which piano, bass and drums all get to express themselves. ‘Anthropology,’ follows similar lines, the mood and the music bustling with a sturdy swing.
‘Riverside Blues,’ is the only original here, contributed by Noy and featuring him until near the end when the bassist gets a short burst. It is a medium tempo down home type blues that gives some variety to the programme. As does ‘6/8 Lunch Break,’ a two and a half minute solo drum workout where Marchica gets to carefully structure a rhythmic 6/8 time piece. The remaining pieces are mainly up-tempo with some good lines from the guitarist and many of them offering short bass and drum solos. ’Out Of Nowhere,’ is played on the chords with little reference to the melody although it does have fine solos from Noy and Okegwo on bass. I did not recognise ‘Billy’s Bounce,’ as the Parker line I am familiar with on this version. A lively, enjoyable recital ends with ‘Sunny,’ where guest musician Clifford Carter plays Fender Rhodes in the section. He does not solo but does not need to; these three are inventive and self sufficient enough musically, on their own.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
OIM 2201
Oz Noy (elg); Ugonna Okegwo (b); Ray Marchica (d)
Recorded Connecticut, October 2020.
Here we have a bright, bubbly trio playing s set of standards , the bulk of them associated with the beginnings of bebop. Five tracks are by, or associated with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and I include ‘Out of Nowhere,’ because those two pioneers often played it in the early days of bop. They kick off with ‘All The Things You Are,’ in upbeat, burgeoning mood. Noy plays a solo introduction and then brings in his rhythm players for a wild romp in which piano, bass and drums all get to express themselves. ‘Anthropology,’ follows similar lines, the mood and the music bustling with a sturdy swing.
‘Riverside Blues,’ is the only original here, contributed by Noy and featuring him until near the end when the bassist gets a short burst. It is a medium tempo down home type blues that gives some variety to the programme. As does ‘6/8 Lunch Break,’ a two and a half minute solo drum workout where Marchica gets to carefully structure a rhythmic 6/8 time piece. The remaining pieces are mainly up-tempo with some good lines from the guitarist and many of them offering short bass and drum solos. ’Out Of Nowhere,’ is played on the chords with little reference to the melody although it does have fine solos from Noy and Okegwo on bass. I did not recognise ‘Billy’s Bounce,’ as the Parker line I am familiar with on this version. A lively, enjoyable recital ends with ‘Sunny,’ where guest musician Clifford Carter plays Fender Rhodes in the section. He does not solo but does not need to; these three are inventive and self sufficient enough musically, on their own.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
