Search - Tom Harrell, Kenny Garrett, Kenny Barron :: Moon Alley

For those who don't really like 80's jazz

John P. Piazza | Oakland, CA United States | 01/31/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For listeners who really love 60's post bop (Blue Note), the 70's and 80's are often seen as a bad time for jazz. Harrell was, unfortunately, born a little too late to participate in that "golden age" of Jazz, but he obviously took it all in (often working with members of that era), without rejecting the influences of his contemporaries, to become an amazing composer and improvisor. This album is in some ways a tribute to that earlier era, but one which makes good use of the musical developments of the subsequent decades. The 70's happened, and these mucisians do not deny it. Harrell's solos combine sick bop runs and beautiful, almost sentimental, phrasings. His compositions are beautiful and really bring out the melodicism of improvisors. "Change of Pace" could be an out-take from Oliver Nelson's Blues and The Abstract Truth, and the horn players seem to channel Hubbard and Dolphy. I find that most reed players on Harrell's albums are loud and busy, often drowning Harrell out. Garrett really shows a seneitivity and restraint which make his playing more beautiful and appropriate to the session. Also, the session is recorded beautifully by Rudy Van Gelder (of 50's and 60's Blue Note fame). The horns sound great, and Kenny Barron's piano shines without "sparkling" (e.g. Nils Lan Doky on The Water's Edge). My only complaint is that the bass seems to be recorded mainly from the pickup, and lacks acoustic depth. This album is an 80's jazz gem, and the cover photo of Harrell in a Member's Only Jacket is just icing on the cake!"

Good Tom

Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 01/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A nice program of originals by talented trumpet player Tom Harrell. Style is modern mainstrem Jazz with a touch of modal harmonies here and there, like in the opener "Blues in six". All tunes here are from Tom's pen except the Charlie Parker's line "Scrapple from the apple" and a tune by sax player Kenny Garrett ("Change of pace"). This album is from 1986, I was searching for a good record from Tom's discography (I already knew him but I hadn't nothing from him in my collection) and I found this one. It's very good. The band is Tom, Kenny Garrett alto sax and flute (I enjoyed kenny's playing even if he is not among my favourite sax players), Kenny Barron piano, Ray Drummond bass and Ralph Peterson drums. Tom is a technical, bopping and lyrical player at the same time. His sound is very open, very good too. Don't be fooled by the rating, "only" four stars. It is a very consistent date simply I choose to give five stars only to essential recordings and this it's not really essential as a good historic Charlie Parker or Bill Evans album may be. But it is a very good record in its own right that you can buy if you want to listen to some fresh Jazz from a very talented contemporary trumpet player."