Brent Laidler (guitar); Mark Buselli (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ned
Boyd (alto sax, flute); Jamie Newman (organ); Richard “Sleepy” Floyd (drums);
Scott Pazara (bass on all tracks except Ballad for B and Without a Tres).
With Hidden Gems, Indiana-based guitarist, composer, arranger, jazz radio host, clinician, and all-around super-interesting gent, Brent Laidler and his outstanding crew of colleagues offers a unique 10-track musical mystery tour - of sorts. Submersing himself into a century of music drawn from fake books and other sources (while avoiding composing simple contrafacts), Laidler brilliantly reconstituted said music, composing terrific original melodic and harmonic material. It is an outstanding recording and fun attempting to recognize the original sources.
Laidler’s
inspiration for Haba Verde was a song plucked from a Muppet movie. Here,
completely reimagined, it is an up-tempo samba with guitar, flute, and flugelhorn
stating the melody in unison. It is a highly energized track with fine solos
from Jamie Newman, flugelhornist, Mark Buselli, Laidler, Ned Boyd, and bassist,
Scott Pazara. A terrific opener this. #5 Shomeday Way is a 5/4 blues-ish
ditty with both Dave Brubeck’s Mr. Broadway and joyous New Orleans
second line overtones. Ned Boyd boils a solo, as do Laidler, Buselli, Newman
and Pazara before things are taken out. Gemani is another happy-paced
tune with a calypso vibe. Since it was adapted from a Cannonball Adderley
transcribed solo, Boyd’s alto gets the first spotlight and soars. Buselli’s
butter-lush flugelhorn is the voice on Ballad for B singing over a
faux-exotic textural platform. The track offers a hauntingly beautiful and
mysterious vibe. Riffy Business is a faster-paced bossa nova with a
family show TV theme-like sequenced melodic form. The selection is upbeat, with
great momentum throughout. The solos here shine.
The
premise of this fine album – that Laidler drew compositional inspiration from
previously created resources takes nothing away from the effervescence of the
album. As a matter of fact, unlike incorporating pure “contrafacting” or,
Heaven forbid it, highway robbery, Laidler’s efforts across the board are
outstanding, honest and, for the most part, brilliant. The performers on his
team are invigorated, partnered, and simply terrific. They dig these tunes
without reservation.
Laidler’s
unique swinger, Bop Like, “based on a dark ballad” has a slick “relay
race” segment to it, as each performer snags a section of the melody. The
trading of fours with drummer, Richard “Sleepy” Floyd is a nice touch. Petite
Parasol is a hip-hop funk offering with a uniquely interesting melody and
harmonic bed – think something like Steely Dan. The tune breaks into a
straight ahead four with tasty solos from the leader, Buselli, Newman and Boyd.
A kicking interlude sets up the original groove to take things out in
swaggering style.
Hidden
Gems holds baubles of great music shining
throughout its delightful near-hour of play. Nick Mondello
Haba Verde; #5 Shomeday Way; Gemani (Gem-A-Nee); Ballad for B; Riffy Business; Somewhere in Central Park; Evening Song; Bop Like; Petite Parasol; Without a Tres.
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