John Bailey (trumpet/flugel; Stacy Dillard (tenor/soprano); John Hart (guitar); Cameron Brown (bass); Victor Lewis (drums) + Janet Axelrod (flute) & Leo Grinhauz (cello) on 1 track.
(Review by Dave Brownlow)
The first album for trumpet player, arranger and composer John Bailey, who, having spent more than thirty years in the music business “paying his dues” as an in-demand sideman, emerges from the shadows as the leader/arranger of a technically accomplished quintet. The group’s instrumentation provides excellent variation throughout – guitar instead of piano in the rhythm section, with trumpet or flugelhorn and soprano or tenor sax. Flute and cello are added to good effect on Morro Velho.
The sheer variety of his work as a musician playing just about everything from traditional jazz to r & b, and pop to classical, has provided him with the rich diet of influences evident in his compositions, of which there are seven, to add to two Brazilian cover pieces.
A trumpet prodigy, first noticed in 1984 as a High School musician, he plays with a bright, clear tone, and a fantastic technique. Ideas burst forward with great energy and attack and his cheerful personality shines through on each track. His jazz credentials are also strong having worked with Ray Charles, The Buddy Rich Band, Ray Baretto, Max Weinberg and Frank Sinatra Jr. whilst his influences range from Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis and mentor Ira Sullivan – enough said!
The material ranges from the straight-ahead: Rhapsody, My Man Louis, Stepping Up, to boppish: Blues For Ella, Children’s Waltz: the ballad: Lovely Planet and the post-bop: Triplicity, Brazilian Morro Velho and Ensaio Geral.
Overall, a very satisfactory first album with first-class playing and musicianship throughout, available now on - SUMMIT RECORDS DCD 720 or from https://johnbailey.com
Dave B.
No comments :
Post a Comment