This interesting outing past times an all-star grouping (guitarist artist/danny-gatton-mn0000955027">Danny Gatton, altoist artist/bobby-watson-mn0000765494">Bobby Watson, trumpeter artist/roy-hargrove-mn0000345426">Roy Hargrove, artist/joshua-redman-mn0000280434">Joshua Redman on tenor, pianist artist/franck-amsallem-mn0000196204">Franck Amsallem, bassist artist/charles-fambrough-mn0000204054">Charles Fambrough too drummer artist/yuron-israel-mn0000127269">Yuron Israel) is most notable for featuring the vivid artist/gatton-mn0000955027">Gatton inwards a jazz setting. Together the septet, performs nine originals past times grouping members too artist/gatton-mn0000955027">Gatton too artist/watson-mn0000765494">Watson emerge equally the principal solo stars. Despite its somewhat generic name, this advanced difficult bop engagement is quite memorable.
This is EXACTLY what I recall of when I recall of New York mode jazz. As you lot brain to it, you lot experience equally if you lot are cruising inwards a cab on a rain-drenched black inwards Manhattan, off to encounter some classy lady for a black on the town. The line-up is superb: Danny Gatton on guitar, showing off his jazz licks amongst his unique rockabilly spice; amazing trumpet playing past times Lee Hargrove; delightful too tasteful Joshua Redman on tenor sax; summation others. Every unmarried truthful cat is WAILING on this release. Look for incredible ensemble playing inwards the horns, presenting that big, New York banner sound. Get it soon, if you lot tin uncovering it!
The guitarist is Danny Gatton, too though I suppose in that location could last some people who don't similar his guitar playing, he was i of those under-appreciated guitar geniuses who could play whatsoever style, too could fuse whatsoever styles -- hence he was impossible to pigeonhole or marketplace inwards the contemporary music world. His playing on this album is brilliant, too I would combat than anyone who believes jazz "requires" a hollow-body guitar hasn't genuinely listened.
I should dot out, inwards the context of the guitar give-and-take above, that this is genuinely an ensemble slice past times a grouping of original musicians -- Danny Gatton's guitar is non genuinely featured whatsoever to a greater extent than (well, maybe a little) than Franck Amsallem's piano, too the album wouldn't last equally adept equally it is without the the horn department of Bobby Watson, Roy Hargrove, too Joshua Redman, the bass of Charles Fambrough, too the drums of Yuron Israel. Of the nine tracks, three were composed past times Gatton, 2 past times Watson, too 1 each past times Fambrough, Amsallem, Israel, too Hargrove -- to the extent that whatsoever i somebody tin last said to get got "composed" a slice inwards what was intended to last an old-style Blue Note jam session.
This CD is timeless too an absolute classic. It has to charge per unit of measurement equally i of my top v -- maybe *the* top -- jazz albums ever. The playing, the production, too the overall recording character are superb. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 expect at what people are charging for used copies of this CD volition betoken how much it's treasured past times those who know it.
Already legendary for his dry reason too stone too whorl guitar mastery, the belatedly Danny Gatton besides released a pure jazz CD on Blue Note, "New York Stories." If in that location was whatsoever dubiousness that this incredible instrumentalist was capable of whatsoever style, whatsoever time, whatsoever place, this CD volition lay those doubts to residuum too nosotros volition give-up the ghost on to mourn too lament the passing of i of the greatest guitarists inwards history. His suicide was provoked according to some theories past times his miserable tape sales, too what a shame.
"New York Stories" is genuinely a jazz combo assay amongst Gatton writing all or part of the tunes too sharing his fourth dimension amongst a stellar pianoforte too horn section. This is a jam session, too according to the liner notes, a express amount of rehearsal was allowed to maintain the tunes fresh too to let the improvisational juices to flow.
It's shine - too so much too so you lot almost desire to accept upwards smoking too don a fedora acre you lot listen. It harkens dorsum to the smoky unsafe days of the '40's too '50's, where downwards too dingy jazz emanated from grimy clubs inwards the bad parts of town. Yet at times the music is ethereal, such equally the guitar tour de forcefulness "One For Lenny" that closes the CD.
The mode hither is reminiscent of Miles Davis' early on years, ala "Walking" too "Someday My Prince Will Come" too possibly a niggling Brubeck pianoforte too sax tradeoffs.
Even rockers volition appreciate the mastery on this session. "New York Stories" goes downwards similar a cool sip on a hot summertime afternoon, welcome equally a surprise snowfall inwards July would be.
Danny was such a groovy player; he frequently sounded similar two. If I hadn't been there, I'd last looking for the opened upwards minute track, particularly on One for Lenny. Having e'er been a fan of Five O'Clock Bells too Mo' Breau (also produced past times Doyle) it was similar he was channeling Lenny. Doyle was e'er adept at throwing people together, similar the black he got SRV to drib past times on i of Johnny's records. But he genuinely outdid himself on this group. Fambrough had a tape on the jazz charts at the time, too Bobby Watson had patently been around but some of the other guys were merely starting out. "Who's that kid?" "That's Dewey Redman's son, man!"
You know what else? Danny was besides a genuinely nice, quiet, unassuming guy for someone too so talented. The Tele did the talking. I asked him to sign my re-create of Elmira St. (which lost the Grammy to Eric Johnson that year. I mean, that had to hurt! Any other year... Think well-nigh it; if he won, would he even too so last hither today?)
Anyway, he signed it, "Thanks a mil, Danny Gatton" I want I had that on this record, but of course of written report it didn't be at the time. And unfortunately, I never saw him again.
Track Listing:
1. Dolly's Ditty
2. Wheel Within Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Wheel
3. Ice Maidens
4. Out Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Day
5. Mike The Cat
6. The Move
7. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Clear Thought
8. 5/4
9. One For Lenny
Personnel:
Danny Gatton (guitar),
Bobby Watson (alto saxophone),
Joshua Redman (saxophone),
Roy Hargrove (trumpet),
Franck Amsallem (keyboards),
Charles Fambrough (bass),
Yoron State of Israel (drums)
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