FAST TRACKS... More Reviews In Brief

JOE ALBANY - An Evening with Joe Albany (SteepleChase SCCD 31801)
Joe Albany has a performance method reminiscent of Art Tatum ,who used 'frills' to embellish melodies- a sort of musical embroidery you might say.Tatum of course was the one whose genius created the style -though he would have had his influences maybe? If you like Art Tatum this Album is for you. There's a medley of standards on the Album with an original composition penned by Joe himself,entitled 'Old Old Friends'. Among the Composers represented on this output there's
Fats Waller,Jerome Ker.Harry Warren,Jimmy van Heusen, Vernon Duke and Harry Arlen- to mention but a few. Tunes to expect from Joe are 'Ain't Misbehaving','Time on My Hands','These Foolish Things', 'I'm Old-Fashioned' etc.-25 Tracks in all!
Reviewed by Bob Jones
Joe Albany has a performance method reminiscent of Art Tatum ,who used 'frills' to embellish melodies- a sort of musical embroidery you might say.Tatum of course was the one whose genius created the style -though he would have had his influences maybe? If you like Art Tatum this Album is for you. There's a medley of standards on the Album with an original composition penned by Joe himself,entitled 'Old Old Friends'. Among the Composers represented on this output there's
Fats Waller,Jerome Ker.Harry Warren,Jimmy van Heusen, Vernon Duke and Harry Arlen- to mention but a few. Tunes to expect from Joe are 'Ain't Misbehaving','Time on My Hands','These Foolish Things', 'I'm Old-Fashioned' etc.-25 Tracks in all!
Reviewed by Bob Jones

BILL EVANS TRIO - Complete February 1972 Paris ORTTF Performance (Domino Records 891229)
This is the complete Paris Radio (ORTF) 1972 performance. Loads of the well-known standards played by the Trio with
Eddie Gomez having replaced the irreplaceable! Scott la Faro on Bass are here. 'Gloria's Step' (S.laFaro) Trk 3 is a prime exaample of an original composition which further facilitated the mode of improvisation Evan's was aiming at where each member of the trio had an equal voice. for example, on the standard 'My Romance',the bass and drums can be heard
swapping fours-not the norm by any standards-but refreshing! The amount of Be-bop influence and the likes of Debussy that Evan's playing (cf Keith Jarrett) has absorbed is oft forgotten-all of which led Miles to say- 'This is the way the piano should be played'. That statement probably refers to Bill's beautiful touch too. This Album then, is well-worth having- if only to be able to enjoy so much material under one banner.The 2 CD recordings boasts 17 tracks in total. Yes,'Waltz for Debbie' is there,'Autumn Leaves'- as is 'Someday my Prince will Come'. Marty Morell is on drums (a la batterie) on this occasion; with Tony Oxley on the Bonus track. Dig!
Reviewed by Bob Jones
This is the complete Paris Radio (ORTF) 1972 performance. Loads of the well-known standards played by the Trio with
Eddie Gomez having replaced the irreplaceable! Scott la Faro on Bass are here. 'Gloria's Step' (S.laFaro) Trk 3 is a prime exaample of an original composition which further facilitated the mode of improvisation Evan's was aiming at where each member of the trio had an equal voice. for example, on the standard 'My Romance',the bass and drums can be heard
swapping fours-not the norm by any standards-but refreshing! The amount of Be-bop influence and the likes of Debussy that Evan's playing (cf Keith Jarrett) has absorbed is oft forgotten-all of which led Miles to say- 'This is the way the piano should be played'. That statement probably refers to Bill's beautiful touch too. This Album then, is well-worth having- if only to be able to enjoy so much material under one banner.The 2 CD recordings boasts 17 tracks in total. Yes,'Waltz for Debbie' is there,'Autumn Leaves'- as is 'Someday my Prince will Come'. Marty Morell is on drums (a la batterie) on this occasion; with Tony Oxley on the Bonus track. Dig!
Reviewed by Bob Jones

BRUNO HEINEN/ KRISTIAN BORRING - Postcard To Bill Evans (Babel)
The Album comprises 10 tracks-8 of which are Bill Evans compositions, while the eponymous 'Postcard to Bill' is a piece by Heinen himself. 'All the Things You Are' is of course by Jerome Kern. Bruno Heinen (Piano) and Kristian Borrring (Guitar)
perform numbers you will know-such as' Peri's Scope' '34 Skidoo' and 'Show Type Tune'-The duo opens with an atmostpheric rendering of Bill's 'Time Remembered which 'is followed by 'Peri's Scope'- with fine interplay from the pair. There's a clutch of less familiar Evan's tunes along the way finishing off with 'All the Things You Are'- A tune where the melody is so intrinsically built into the chords as Kern'sis requires a Charlie Parker or a Keith Jarrett to create something special out of it.The duo make things work by dint of judicious inter-play. This track was recorded at the Vortex! This Album grows on you with repeated listenings.
Reviewed by Bob Jones
The Album comprises 10 tracks-8 of which are Bill Evans compositions, while the eponymous 'Postcard to Bill' is a piece by Heinen himself. 'All the Things You Are' is of course by Jerome Kern. Bruno Heinen (Piano) and Kristian Borrring (Guitar)
perform numbers you will know-such as' Peri's Scope' '34 Skidoo' and 'Show Type Tune'-The duo opens with an atmostpheric rendering of Bill's 'Time Remembered which 'is followed by 'Peri's Scope'- with fine interplay from the pair. There's a clutch of less familiar Evan's tunes along the way finishing off with 'All the Things You Are'- A tune where the melody is so intrinsically built into the chords as Kern'sis requires a Charlie Parker or a Keith Jarrett to create something special out of it.The duo make things work by dint of judicious inter-play. This track was recorded at the Vortex! This Album grows on you with repeated listenings.
Reviewed by Bob Jones

JEFF MIGUEL - Perseverance (Realtown Records MZDO910)
This Album from the Jeff Miguel Sextet (Mar 2015) is a comfortable easy- listening outfit where any complexities are just part of a natural flow. The music is unpretentious and simply smacks of integrity. The eponymous opening track 'Perseverance' sets an appropriate feel for the Album.The second track 140 Gev..meaning? ..contrasts with a latin feel..nice! A slow ballad follows , entitled 'Complete Contemplation'..which is what it says on the tin. Miguel wrote the 8 tracks on the Album. Track 4 is latin in concept but still contrasts with the previous one. Track 5 offers another ballad..which moves nicely into medium swing.Two more more numbers bring a convincing opus to a close, with the final track displaying some interesting interplay going on. .This piece is entitled 'This Time'. The oeuvre isindeed highly recommended.It has the 'cool' air of authority about it.
Reviewed by Bob Jones
This Album from the Jeff Miguel Sextet (Mar 2015) is a comfortable easy- listening outfit where any complexities are just part of a natural flow. The music is unpretentious and simply smacks of integrity. The eponymous opening track 'Perseverance' sets an appropriate feel for the Album.The second track 140 Gev..meaning? ..contrasts with a latin feel..nice! A slow ballad follows , entitled 'Complete Contemplation'..which is what it says on the tin. Miguel wrote the 8 tracks on the Album. Track 4 is latin in concept but still contrasts with the previous one. Track 5 offers another ballad..which moves nicely into medium swing.Two more more numbers bring a convincing opus to a close, with the final track displaying some interesting interplay going on. .This piece is entitled 'This Time'. The oeuvre isindeed highly recommended.It has the 'cool' air of authority about it.
Reviewed by Bob Jones