Search - David Hazeltine :: A World for Her

An Album I Can Really Dig......

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 09/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

".....over 60 minutes worth of varied styles, selection and consummate musicians. David Hazeltine always seems to have a sophisticated and stylish approach to whatever he elects to play. For example the opening cut, "My Foolish Heart", starts with a unique vamp followed by the melodic line played very plaintively by Joe Lovano. Superb rhythm by Peter Washington and Louis Hayes accompanies Hazeltine and Jackson in their well thought-out solos before the group returns to the melody and the close-out vamp. Pretty stylish treatment of an old standard!



An original trio selection based on changes to "Just You, Just Me" follows next, a homage to Bop pioneer Bud Powell. Dig the fine light drum work by Joe Farnsworth who appears on three of the tracks.



The title tune is a beautiful haunting bossa nova composition.



A John Coltrane number, "Moment's Notice", is played by the trio next at a very brisk pace with exceptional drum work by Farnsworth.



Mal Waldron's "Soul Eyes", my personal favorite, has an exceptional warm sax line by Jackson, making me think more of John Coltrane than Joe Henderson who was supposedly his main tone and style influence. This is another fine example of a quartet with a huge interactive capability.



The Quartet features a completely different sound with Steve Nelson on vibes replacing Jackson on "Old Devil Moon". Wow!...another favorite! Nelson has an appealing fluid sound and cooks like Milt Jackson.



a really fresh boppish quartet treatment of the standard "What'll I Do" is attained by clipping the phrasing of the melody and the use of effective spacing. Fine exchanges with Louis Hayes on the drums of this one!



The set closes with another fine bop swinger, "Bitter Sweet", written by the late bassist, Sam Jones.



I have not really mentioned the excellent piano of the leader whose playing is a jazz lover's delight throughout this album....or any of his albums I've heard! I suppose it's easy to to devote one's commentary to the group because this guy is very generous in allowing space to all the musicians which comes across as .......interactive while maintaining cohesiveness.



If you enjoy jazz quartets or trios, post-bop or neo-bop,or any of these excellent musicians, you will enjoy this cd!"