Search - Reg Schwager, Don Thompson :: Live at Mezzetta

Intimate Musical Coversations That Swing - 4 &1/2 stars

John Tapscott | Canada | 02/15/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With guitar/bass duos, you expect a high level of musical interaction and intimate musical coversation, and that's exactly what you get with this well-matched duo of guitarist Reg Schwager and bassist Don Thompson. The 8 well-recorded tracks, recorded in August 1992 at a Toronto club, range from 5 minutes to nearly 10 minutes, and are consistently engaging. These interpretations of well-known standards swing subtly rather than overtly but there is always a sense of forward motion and never any aimless wandering. These musicians listen carefully to one another and bring a sense of shape and completeness to each tune. Schwager is a bright-toned guitarist, who favors fleet single note melodic solo lines, punctuated occasionally by soft chords. There is never any distortion or unpleasantness in his sound. Thompson is a superb bassist, whether stating the melody as he does on "Old Folks" and "Foolish Heart"; walking swiftly behind Schwager on "You and the Night and the Music"; trading phrases with the gutarist on the bluesy "Willow Weep For Me" or soloing brilliantly on "Gone With the Wind." The recording captures Thompson's full, resonant bass sound very clearly. Overall, this a very satsifying jazz CD which I have played every day since I received it a week ago. Each spin reveals something new and fresh. If you enjoy the Jim Hall/Ron Carter duos or the Bill Evans recordings with Scott LaFaro, you'll certainly enjoy this recording, as well. Highly recommended."