Ray Comiskeyreviews this week's jazz releases
ENRICO PIERANUNZI/ MARC JOHNSON
Yellow & Blue Suites
*****
Challenge
Pieranunzi says 1990 was a time when his approach to improvisation grew more open. And though he was already an outstanding pianist, there's a renewed sense of discovery about this previously unissued live recording with bassist Marc Johnson from that year.
It's present even in pieces familiar in his work, like the Je ne sais quoi prefacing the Yellow Suite, itself containing I Hear a Rhapsody, I Should Careand Yesterdays, as well as Princes and Princesses(a spontaneous fantasia on Some Day My Prince Will Come) all often visited by him.
Pieranunzi and Johnson share an astonishing rapport, not only in their daring way with the standards, but also in the successful risk-taking of the improvised episodes that link the "suite" and in the material of the Blue Suite, itself created in performance and finished with a brief flourish of Blue Monk. A total joy.
www.musicconnection.org.uk
DON BRADEN
Gentle Storm
***
HighNote
The highly respected Braden here leads a quality quartet, including George Colligan (piano), Joris Teepe (bass) and Cecil Brooks III (drums), with impressive aplomb in a programme of standards and originals. Although his harmonic nous shows touches of Coltrane, essentially Braden is a skilled, ebullient, mainstream tenor with
a penchant for finding the unexpected in what can seem like running the changes. His approach brings out a hint of McCoy Tyner in Colligan, especially on This Masqueradeand My Secret Love, where the echo of the classic Coltrane quartet is reinforced by Brooks's polyrhythmic drums.
Too much can be made of the connection, though. Braden and the group are at their most winning and effective just setting a swinging groove, as they do on Never Can Say Goodbyeand W illow Weep for Me.Mainstream fans should love it.
www.jazzdepot.com
TRIHORNOPHONE
Breathing Time
***
Diatribe
Trihornophone, winner of Music Network's Young Musicwide Award 2007, make their recording debut with this genial album.
Together Seán Óg (alto/composer), Bill Blackmore (trumpet), Kelan Walsh (baritone) and Dennis Cassidy (drums/percussion) are a fascinating group, with an old- time feel and a contemporary freedom to handle rhythm and harmony, judiciously mixed with rigorously scored ensembles whose use seems as likely cued as pre-determined.
Embedded in this structured openness, soloists have licence to roam to good effect on the most successful performances, Clover, Ampersandand Rims, Shells & Bells.
Seán Óg's settings, so packed with ideas, show a determination to shun the obvious and familiar at almost any price, but their wit, invention and the sheer warmth of what is a very together band are palpable.
www.diatribe.ie
