XPQ - Sidekicks
(VASILIS XENOPOULOS / NIGEL PRICE QUARTET)
Trio Records TR601
Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor); Nigel Price (guitar); Steve Brown (drums); Dario Di Lecce (bass)
Guitar tenor partnerships that have inspired Price and Xenopoulos is the theme behind this album. It is a good starting point and straightaway you realise that, though they are using themes developed by others, the group has its own identity. Price has a phenomenal technique and the joy that he finds in playing communicates to the listener. Xenopoulos has many influences and throughout the album he nods to the great saxophonists. The whole album is a celebration of the jazz heritage and a building on it.
‘When Joanna Loved Me’, was originally played by Paul Desmond and Jim Hall. Price and Xenopoulos keep the beauty of the theme while avoiding slippage into sentimentality. Xenopoulos is much more assertive than Paul Desmond ever was. The darker tone of the tenor works better on this theme than the softer more delicate sound of Desmond.
Geoff Simkins and Dave Cliff are, of course, a well-known UK duo and their tune ‘The Right Time’ was on one of the first albums. The closely voiced Tristano lines are adhered to but you sense the relief when they break way.to improvise freely.
‘Ready and Able’ from George Benson and Johnny Cuba is fast paced and enables all four players to swing merrily and joyfully through the unisons. ‘O Pato’ was played by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. The rhythm section captures the right stresses and Xenopoulos resists the temptation to sound like Getz!
The big challenge on the date was ‘Without a Song’ which was played by Sonny Rollins and Jim Hall on Rollins’ first album after his first famous sabbatical. Xenopoulos is not overawed by his predecessor. The tenor playing here is as masculine as Rollins. You get the feeling that he enjoys playing tribute to the great man. The fluidity of the improvisation by Price emphasises his skill and his sheer love of playing. If you want to play a track to see if you need to buy the album, this is the one that will convince you.
Mal Waldron’s ‘Soul Eyes’ was a piece played by Morrissey Mullen. It is a melancholy theme and both men are willing to slow down and explore the piece in some depth. You get a real sense of complexity, of what these two could achieve in the future.
Steve Brown and Dario Di Lecce are more than providing background to the two virtuosi. Brown is a sympathetic drummer and Di Lecce has a firm tone.
This is a varied album that achieves what it sets out to do. It was obviously enjoyable for the players and is just as pleasurable for listeners. However, you get the impression that this is a marking time album and that soon both of them will dig deeper and produce music that will astound. They are capable of doing that.
Reviewed by Jack Kenny
(VASILIS XENOPOULOS / NIGEL PRICE QUARTET)
Trio Records TR601
Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor); Nigel Price (guitar); Steve Brown (drums); Dario Di Lecce (bass)
Guitar tenor partnerships that have inspired Price and Xenopoulos is the theme behind this album. It is a good starting point and straightaway you realise that, though they are using themes developed by others, the group has its own identity. Price has a phenomenal technique and the joy that he finds in playing communicates to the listener. Xenopoulos has many influences and throughout the album he nods to the great saxophonists. The whole album is a celebration of the jazz heritage and a building on it.
‘When Joanna Loved Me’, was originally played by Paul Desmond and Jim Hall. Price and Xenopoulos keep the beauty of the theme while avoiding slippage into sentimentality. Xenopoulos is much more assertive than Paul Desmond ever was. The darker tone of the tenor works better on this theme than the softer more delicate sound of Desmond.
Geoff Simkins and Dave Cliff are, of course, a well-known UK duo and their tune ‘The Right Time’ was on one of the first albums. The closely voiced Tristano lines are adhered to but you sense the relief when they break way.to improvise freely.
‘Ready and Able’ from George Benson and Johnny Cuba is fast paced and enables all four players to swing merrily and joyfully through the unisons. ‘O Pato’ was played by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. The rhythm section captures the right stresses and Xenopoulos resists the temptation to sound like Getz!
The big challenge on the date was ‘Without a Song’ which was played by Sonny Rollins and Jim Hall on Rollins’ first album after his first famous sabbatical. Xenopoulos is not overawed by his predecessor. The tenor playing here is as masculine as Rollins. You get the feeling that he enjoys playing tribute to the great man. The fluidity of the improvisation by Price emphasises his skill and his sheer love of playing. If you want to play a track to see if you need to buy the album, this is the one that will convince you.
Mal Waldron’s ‘Soul Eyes’ was a piece played by Morrissey Mullen. It is a melancholy theme and both men are willing to slow down and explore the piece in some depth. You get a real sense of complexity, of what these two could achieve in the future.
Steve Brown and Dario Di Lecce are more than providing background to the two virtuosi. Brown is a sympathetic drummer and Di Lecce has a firm tone.
This is a varied album that achieves what it sets out to do. It was obviously enjoyable for the players and is just as pleasurable for listeners. However, you get the impression that this is a marking time album and that soon both of them will dig deeper and produce music that will astound. They are capable of doing that.
Reviewed by Jack Kenny
