Tom Kennedy (bs); George Garzone (ten); Renee Rosnes (pno);
Dave Weckl (dms) + Mike Stern, Lee Ritenour (gtr); John Allred (tmb); Steve
Witts (ten).
(Review by Dave Brownlow.)
This album “Just
Play” is an unashamedly swinging session led by bassist-extraordinaire Tom
Kennedy where he and several friends, accomplished players all, enjoy work-outs
on classic material.
The core group
is a quartet comprising George Garzone on tenor, Renee Rosnes on piano, Dave
Weckl, drums and the leader on acoustic bass, supplemented on separate tracks
by Mike Stern on guitar, Tim Hagans on trumpet, Lee Ritenour on guitar, John
Allred trombone, and Steve Wirts, tenor.
Sonny Rollins’ Airegin starts us off at a furious tempo
with an unpredictable solo from Garzone and a horn-like one from Kennedy
himself. Lee Ritenour is next featured on Bobby Timmons’ Moanin’ with soulful work
from the whole quintet. The Night Has a
Thousand Eyes follows, featuring Hagans, Allred and Wirts augmenting the
quartet into a nicely arranged
performance in which Weckl’s drums “sparkle”. The tempo slows next for a
Garzone rendition of Lee Morgan’s Ceora also featuring Rosnes airy, tasteful and
flowing piano solo.
On his own One Liners, Mike Stern joins the group
for this high energy swinger. Mike uses a distinctive, slightly distorted
guitar tone which is reminiscent of Hiram Bullock’s work in Gil Evans’
freewheeling ensemble at The Sweet Basil .This cranks up the excitement level
leading into a Rosnes solo which takes one in and out of “Tyner Country” with
fleet-fingered right hand work over those memorable tri-tone left hand chords.
Duke Ellington’s In a Sentimental Mood
follows next at a lively tempo featuring the whole quartet.
Kennedy himself
begins Bolivia Own Sweet Way
As a bassist Tom
Kennedy has the lot. A remarkable technique enables him to hold the rhythm
section together whatever the tempo, and take solos which are horn-like in
their construction. His tone is full and compelling, even cello-like when he
ascends into the higher registers where his intonation is spot-on unlike some
other famous players who have found it difficult to achieve ! I’ve not heard
the bass played as fast since Scott La Faro’s days – in fact at times you would
think Tom’s playing bass-guitar.
Overall, a most
spirited and enjoyable CD where Tom’s exhortations to “Just Play” were fully
realised by all concerned !
Tom Kennedy –
Just Play is available on CAPRI RECORDS
#74122-2
Dave Brownlow
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