One of my favourite LPs is Tadd Dameron’s 1962 Riverside album The Magic Touch and I am pleased to note that on this excellent CD, recorded live at the Audi Forum, Ingolstadt, Bavaria, there are three tunes from The Magic Touch album - On a Misty Night, If You Could See Me Now and Look, Stop and Listen.
On the original recording Dameron used at least fourteen musicians and the result was outstanding with incredible solos from guys like Johnny Griffin, Clark Terry, Joe Wilder, Bill Evans, and Philly Joe Jones. If my memory serves me correctly, when this record was reviewed in Downbeat magazine it was only given three and a half stars which was crazy as if any record merited the top rating of five stars it was this one!
Parisian based drummer Bernd Reiter, the man behind the project, brought together an interesting group of international musicians from various backgrounds and presented them with the challenging task of interpreting the arrangements of some of Tadd’s lesser known tunes in front of a live audience.
I've seen Bernd Reiter live on a few occasions. At the Band On The Wall with Eric Alexander’s Quartet and two years ago when I went to Frankfurt’s Jazz Keller to hear Don Menza. His powerful drumming is highly influenced by the great Art Blakey and he drives things along nicely during this CD.
Regarding Jim Rotundi, I remember being very impressed with his playing on one of the Jazz Cruises when he was with Eric Alexander's One For All Quintet. He has a major role in the All Stars and he gets plenty of solo space.
Dick Oatts I have never seen live but he sounds good and no doubt his years playing in the Vanguard Orchestra made him an ideal choice for this venture.
Pianist Pozza I saw a couple of times at Malcolm Fraser's house with Harry Allen and Alan Barnes and I am sure listeners will like his solos on this fine tribute to Tadd Dameron.
I think this is one of those albums that to get the most out of it, repeated plays are required but I have no hesitation in recommending it, especially to those who like this sort of small band bebop.
Mike Farmer
Choose Now; The Scene is Clean; If You Could See me Now; Philly J.J. On a Misty Night; My Foolish Heart; Flossie Lou; Look, Stop and Listen; Portrait.
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