Search - George Cables :: Morning Song

GEORGE CABLES' BLAZING JAZZ SOLO, TRIO, AND QUARTET SETS-LIV

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 04/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Four and a half BIG Stars!! Recorded live at Keystone Korner in 1980, this set finds dazzling jazz piano virtuoso George Cables in the good company of his trio, featuring the wonderful John Heard on bass and the dexterous drumming of Sherman Ferguson. Special guest: virtuoso trumpeter and flugelhornist Dr Eddie Henderson, who is also a physician and psychiatrist, is well-remembered under his Swahili name of 'Mganga' (Medicine Man) from the days of his soaring brass exploits with Herbie Hancock's famous 'Mwandishi' band.



"On Green Dolphin Street" is a wonderful stage-setter by the band with Dr Eddie on muted trumpet in a timeless relaxed mode making fiery runs and pushing the beat. A masterful, beautiful solo piano explosion of "Who Can I Turn To?" is dazzling and full of deconstruction and reconstruction at lightning speed with many twists and turns which then, without pause, morphs effortlessly into "Stroll" at a steady pace with many stops to smell the roses along the way. Likewise a sizzling "I Remember Clifford", "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", "As Time Goes By" and a fantastic version of "Little B's Poem" composed by legendary vibraharpist Bobby Hutcherson are also very adventurous solo piano ventures in the inimitable Cables 'handful of keys' style. The full quartet also presents wonderful interpretations of "Morning Song", the old Jazz Messengers waltz "Up Jumped Spring", and "Quiet Fire". Bravo, George, Dr Eddie, and the band! George Cables is WONDERFUL! Highly Recommended! Four and a half DAZZLING Stars!! (This review is based on an iTunes download.)"