PAT SENATORE TRIO - Inspirations
Fresh Sounds Records: FSR 5057 CD
Pat Senatore (bass) Tom Ranier (piano, bass clarinet) Christian Euman (drums) with guests, Larry Koonse (guitar) Herb Alpert (trumpet)
Recorded at Vibrato Grill Jazz, California, October and November 2016.
A veteran of the Stan Kenton Orchestra (he can be heard on several of the `Creative World `albums including `Adventures in the Blues`) and long-time member of Herb Alpert’s `Tijuana Brass`, Senatore leads a quieter life these days fronting his trio in a residency at a popular west coast watering hole. The pleasing set of jazz standards and ballads offered here no doubt represents a typical evening’s entertainment. Recorded at the venue but seemingly not in front of a live audience this is essentially a piano trio set which features extensively the talents of Tom Ranier, an accomplished and sought after accompanist who his capable of carving out persuasive jazz interpretations on his own account. His playlist includes sprightly versions of `Anthropology` and Bill Evans’ `Fun Ride` alongside reflective readings of ballads like `Laura` and Henry Mancini’s `Two for the Road` and by way of variation he plays bass clarinet on Brubeck’s `The Duke` indulging in some witty contrapuntal interplay with bass and drums. As you might expect there is a fair sprinkling of bass solos but they are all very melodic and don’t impair the overall musicality of the set by inserting ponderous longuers or over indulgent feats of virtuosity, furthermore Senatore’s close rapport with Euman and Rainer ensures the trio concept is fully realised.
As pleasing as their combined efforts are it is nice to have the contribution of the guests in the person of Herb Alpert, Senatore’s old employer, and guitarist Larry Koonse, one-time leader of The LA Jazz Quartet that recorded briefly but memorably for Naxos. His nylon string harmonics and solo deliberations in dialogue with Alpert’s limpid ruminations on a gently Latinised version of `Georgia on My Mind` is one of the album’s high spots. Though this is unlikely to be the most feted and fawned over release of the year it offers a satisfyingly relaxed and quietly stimulating recital of music that the discerning listener will be happy to return to again and again.
Review by Euan Dixon
Fresh Sounds Records: FSR 5057 CD
Pat Senatore (bass) Tom Ranier (piano, bass clarinet) Christian Euman (drums) with guests, Larry Koonse (guitar) Herb Alpert (trumpet)
Recorded at Vibrato Grill Jazz, California, October and November 2016.
A veteran of the Stan Kenton Orchestra (he can be heard on several of the `Creative World `albums including `Adventures in the Blues`) and long-time member of Herb Alpert’s `Tijuana Brass`, Senatore leads a quieter life these days fronting his trio in a residency at a popular west coast watering hole. The pleasing set of jazz standards and ballads offered here no doubt represents a typical evening’s entertainment. Recorded at the venue but seemingly not in front of a live audience this is essentially a piano trio set which features extensively the talents of Tom Ranier, an accomplished and sought after accompanist who his capable of carving out persuasive jazz interpretations on his own account. His playlist includes sprightly versions of `Anthropology` and Bill Evans’ `Fun Ride` alongside reflective readings of ballads like `Laura` and Henry Mancini’s `Two for the Road` and by way of variation he plays bass clarinet on Brubeck’s `The Duke` indulging in some witty contrapuntal interplay with bass and drums. As you might expect there is a fair sprinkling of bass solos but they are all very melodic and don’t impair the overall musicality of the set by inserting ponderous longuers or over indulgent feats of virtuosity, furthermore Senatore’s close rapport with Euman and Rainer ensures the trio concept is fully realised.
As pleasing as their combined efforts are it is nice to have the contribution of the guests in the person of Herb Alpert, Senatore’s old employer, and guitarist Larry Koonse, one-time leader of The LA Jazz Quartet that recorded briefly but memorably for Naxos. His nylon string harmonics and solo deliberations in dialogue with Alpert’s limpid ruminations on a gently Latinised version of `Georgia on My Mind` is one of the album’s high spots. Though this is unlikely to be the most feted and fawned over release of the year it offers a satisfyingly relaxed and quietly stimulating recital of music that the discerning listener will be happy to return to again and again.
Review by Euan Dixon
