I must confess that when I saw the line-up I anticipated something a little different - well, actually quite a lot different! Erskine I've always associated with Jaco and Weather Report, Scofield with Miles, Mingus, Paul Bley and other forward thinkers and Broadbent with, er well, everybody!
If I'd read the reference in the small print to the orchestral backing it would maybe have given me a clue that the roots of this recording weren't planted in Fillmore West. Nevertheless, as I got further into it, the music began to entwine me. Ambrosetti's flugel has a lyrical quality similar to that of Chris Botti whilst Scofield, Colley, Caswell and Erskine prove their versatility by indicating that they are as much at home inside the box as out of it.
Eight tracks comprising four by Ambrosetti: Sweet Caress; Habanera; Colors of the Wind and When the Sun Never Sets. One by Broadbent, Old Friends, as well as Mal Waldron's Soul Eyes, Charlie Haden's Nightfall and the old Nat 'King' Cole hit, Tom Robinson's A Portrait of Jennie. What's not to like?
Needless to say, Broadbent's arrangements are as close to perfection as you might expect. And to think that I have a photo of myself standing next to the great man!
Having said all that, around about thirty minutes in, I started to fidget. Beautiful as it is, I began to long for a little excitement to complement that beauty. I guess at times I'm a musical Philistine.
Nevertheless, if you're looking for some jazzy, tasteful, eine kleine nachtmusik look no further. Lance
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