79.00 PLN

CD:

Nr kat.: M03232
Label  : Mapleshade (USA)

Brzmienie Mapleshade... Podobnego nie znajdą Państwo nigdzie indziej na świecie. Czym się wyróżnia? Brutalną, wręcz porażającą prawdą naturalnego brzmienia. Dźwięki instrumentów brzmią zrazu niecodziennie. Uzupełnia je genialna wprost scena. Muzycy grają razem, patrzą sobie w oczy, gestykulują, podkreślają emocje gestami, minami, pozą ciała. Wzajemnie się motywują, dialogują. I to słychać w sposób wręcz namacalny. Bo ta właśnie realność lub realizm to kolejny element zaskoczenia od pierwszych sekund odsłuchu tych nagrań. Wszyscy Państwo poczują metafizyczne drgniecie organizmu. Całego, warz z nim i duszy. Bo nie są Państwo przygotowani na dźwięk tak NATURALNY. I idę o zakład... O zakład, ze po kilku sekundach poczują Państwo lekką dezorientację. Nie będą Państwo wiedzieli, co jest tu ważniejsze: brzmienie czy treść. Al;bo: treść ma znaczenie wtórne wobec takiego brzmienia! Jest też trzecia możlwość: cóż za treść! Ileż zyskuje muzyka dzięki TAKIEMU brzmieniu! Play What You Feel was recorded almost a year before Clifford Jordan's acclaimed Milestone big band date, Down Through The Years. Both discs were recorded at Condon's by maverick engineer Pierre Sprey; in fact, portions of the earlier performances were used as a demo to help the tenor saxophonist seal the Milestone deal. Unsurprisingly, there is a substantial overlap in the two programs; both discs feature Ellington's Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Gillespie's I Waited For You, and three durable Jordan originals: Third Avenue, Charlie Parker's Last Supper, and Down Through The Years. Additionally, the albums share key personnel, including trumpeter Dizzy Reece, saxophonist Charles Davis (who plays alto on this disc, baritone on the Milestone), and pianist Ronnie Mathews.
There are some significant differences between the two albums, both in the program and the roster. Two strong Jordan compositions are included: the bluesy Old Bo, a movement from the suite, The Life And Times Of Buddy Bolden and Julian Priester's arrangement of the smokin' minor classic, Bearcat. Also noteworthy are Jordan's chart of Alec Wilder's wistful I'll Be Around, Davis' Latin-tinged arrangement of Ellington's Angelica, and Reece's straight-up take on Monk's Evidence. While there is none of the sparring that made Two Tenor Winner (Criss Cross) a must-have for both fans of Jordan and Junior Cook, the presence of Cook on this disc is a major bonus — his solo on Evidence, slyly built on the theme of Thelonious, is a scene-stealer. Trombonist Benny Powell is also on board, handing in a particularly pungent turn on Old Bo.

Still, the highest common denominator of the two albums is Jordan himself, who is clearly inspired throughout the album, soaring over the band even in the ensemble passages. His solos alone are worth the price of the ticket; he caresses the ballads with long wisps of smoky-toned lyricism, and ignites the cookers with his fiery amalgam of blues and bop. However, albums like this underscore the fact that Jordan was not just a gifted improviser, but an insightful writer and an adept leader as well. As such, Play What You Feel is a fitting inauguration to Mapleshade's Homages series. (JazzTimes, Bill Shoemaker)