Two of the Best Make for the Best
Steve Emerine | Tucson, AZ United States | 09/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Many jazz fans recognize Bobby Gordon as one of the best clarinetists around today. Even more acknowledge Dave McKenna as one of the great jazz pianists. It's little wonder, then, that putting them together for the first time on "Clarinet Blue" has produced a winner. From Gordon's title tune to standards like "Rosetta," "Poor Butterfly" and "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good," McKenna and Gordon play like lifetime partners instead of distant admirers. Drummer Joe Ascione and bassist Frank Tate provide the rhythm, but this is definitely a horn and piano show. I hope Arbors combines these two again for a second volume."
Mellow and rich
Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 08/14/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Here's the perfect turn-the-lights-down-low, sit-back-and-relax CD. Bobby Gordon is a beautiful, deep-toned clarinetist, and on every tune here he probes the melody, extracting all the beauty he can find. Most of the selections are taken slow to medium, and Bobby's explorations take him often to the lowest reaches of his instrument. On the slowest of numbers (JA-DA, CLARINET BLUE, SWEET LORRAINE, I GOT IT BAD) there's a slight quaveriness to his playing, and also a great delicacy, that is reminiscent of Pee Wee Russell. Pee Wee often gave the impression that he was the most pleasantly surprised with his own playing, and Gordon does the same; it's among the most delightful things about what he does. Dave McKenna is at his most relaxed; his powerful left hand is usually at ease here - only on ROSETTA does it approach its usual rumbling forcefulness. The title track, a Gordon composition, is a gorgeous tune, a real highlight on the CD. Like I said, this is a most pleasant CD, guaranteed to give many hours of laid-back enjoyment."
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1