Search - Urbie Green :: Indigo Moods

Not the best recording quality, but solos make up for it

James A. Vedda | Alexandria, VA USA | 02/17/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Urbie Green recorded about two dozen albums as a solo artist, most of which were studio recordings. This 1981 session is one of the exceptions in which we hear him in live performance. Solos are longer and more free-wheeling than in Urbie's studio sessions, but the trade-off is that the recording quality lacks the clarity and balance we've become accustomed to. Fortunately, the solo work is high quality and carries the album. In addition to the trombone artistry of one of that instrument's all-time greats, the tenor sax solos of Rick Bell are a welcome treat, especially on "These Foolish Things" and "Wave." (Anyone who has tried to improvise on "Wave" knows that the chord changes of this beautiful tune aren't as simple or intuitive as one would expect.)

Jazz standards and adaptations of pop tunes are typical fair on Urbie's albums, and this one is no exception. The one oddball selection here is "Ode to Billie Joe," rendered in an arrangement that doesn't elevate it from its inherent mediocrity. This is the only track that didn't make it onto my iPod. But that still leaves over 51 minutes of great music."