The problem is how to pay tribute to a legend whose own versions have set the benchmark way beyond the reach of any mere mortal?
Spanish pianist Conde met the problem head on and came up with a solution that respected both tradition and innovation - add a touch of Latin!
It worked beautifully bringing a new dimension to the music that Bud himself may have found had he lived longer ...
That is something we'll never know but, what we do know is that Alex Conde has done justice to Bud's compositions, reinterpreting them without taking anything away from the originals. The Latin percussion giving them that little difference, helped along on two tracks by Mike Olmos' trumpet who, although not (yet) Fats Navarro, could certainly have helped out had Fats had to go and see a man about some horse!
A tribute yes, but also a powerful statement in its own right as to Alex Conde's ever increasing status in the world of jazz.
His previous album in what looks like becoming a series was Descarga for Monk. After Descarga for Bud, who will be the next in line for a Descarga? Hank Jones? Bill Evans? McCoy Tyner? Fellow countryman Tete Montoliu? maybe even Stan Tracey... time will tell but, whoever he chooses, they will be done proud - like Bud - they will be bouncing in their grave!
Lance
Available via usual suspects from May 28.
The Fruit; Oblivion; Bouncing with Bud; Dusk in Saudi; Wail; Parisian Thoroughfare; Hallucinations; Tempus Fugit; Celia.
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