Cary Kilner
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Cary Kilner's Picks: Volume 51
This month I begin looking at some guitar-based groups which will lead to a future column presenting only guitar trios with bass and drums, no organ, piano, or horns. This will be in contrast to such trios I discussed in my piano trio study a while back. To begin, here is a nice article I found about Boston’s Creative Arts Scene. It tends to focus more on the avant-garde movement, but is still interesting. https://thevinylfactory.com/features/boston-creative-jazz-avant-garde-new-york-city/ Steve Khan — Epistrophy Steve is a remarkable progenitor of fusion guitar while coming from a solid jazz background. I really like his lines and use of space on this classic Monk tune. I don’t know where the synthesized stuff is coming from, Steve, or a keyboardist, or an overdub. https://youtu.be/G37EFYdEkyg Bill Evans/Jim Hall — Undercurrent (album) I had the classic album, Intermodulation, that represents the best of both artists. Here is the other release from that same recording session. https://youtu.be/6C4rpOKfsZ4 Bela Fleck and Marcus Roberts — Topaika This is truly a remarkable performance. I realize that in all of these months I have failed to bring Bela Fleck to you, a remarkable banjo player. Hear how he treats the instrument like a guitar, bringing a unique sound to the trio. Marcus plays beautifully as well. https://youtu.be/1iajB7F1qOI Frank Vignola's Guitar Night at Birdland, 11/9/22 — Special Guests Olli Soikkeli and Pasquale Grasso Here is guitarist, Pasquale Grasso, whom I just discovered. Go to time 10:35 to find a remarkable performance of The Sunny Side of the Street, although the whole show is great. https://YouTube/5TNLpr4oZOI This second link is another remarkable guitar ensemble including Pasquale Grasso and Christian McBride: https://YouTube/TK0AbsJCsXY WDR Big Band with Pasquale — Parisian Thoroughfare This is that marvelous big band we have heard previously. In this arrangement of a jazz standard by Bud Powell, the writer has an extended written section with all the sections, plus Pasquale, playing an improvised line in unison while the trombones play contrapuntally for contrast (i.e. the bones go in an opposite direction from the sax section – one up, the other down, and vice-versa). Amazing guitarist. Amazing arrangement. Amazing propellant rhythm section -- amazing bass solo. Great drummer -- right in the pocket and kicking it! Amazing alto solo. https://youtu.be/x4NQy9QkvQ0 Chuck Loeb — Confirmation I have featured Chuck previously. He plays with facility in both straight-ahead jazz groups (e.g. Steps Ahead) and smooth jazz contexts (Fourplay). This is a nice, relaxed treatment of this bebop standard, usually played at a much faster tempo. It also features a great lineup: Jeff Lorber on electric piano, Harvey Mason drums, Brian Bromberg bass, and Eric Marienthal on alto sax. https://youtu.be/7GS3SjuRZzE The Modern Jazz Quartet (aka MJQ) and Laurindo Almeida — One Note Samba You’ll hear a wonderful a Capella introduction by Laurindo. I might note that this is the authentic way Jobim and the other Brazilian musicians play a bossa nova. https://youtu.be/cl8EgQGA4kU Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery: Bags and Wes — Sam Sack We can’t leave this look at jazz guitarists without hearing from Wes. Hear how he and Philly Joe Jones back up Milt at the start of his solo. This is a classic Riverside recording with a totally happy sound. Note the kind of bouncy swing that Sam Jones on bass and Wynton Kelly on piano provide. This is a truly happy blues! https://youtu.be/JySG0hbM3n4 |
