Latest CD releases reviewed
BOBBY WATSON
Horizon Reassembled Palmetto
****
Altoist Watson turns back the clock to the early 1990s with enjoyable results by reforming his neo-hard bop band of Terell Stafford (trumpet/flugel-horn), Edward Simon (piano), Essiet Essiet (bass) and Victor Lewis (drums). The years since have given them a stellar sheen, and it's reflected in the music. From the opening, contrapuntal Lemoncello, it's clear that the band is "up", with front liners Stafford, Watson and Simon contributing contrasting but complimentary work, and sustaining that level of creative energy virtually throughout the album. Watson remains probably the most adventurous soloist, the superb Stafford the most consistent, but everyone plays so arrestingly that their pleasure in their reunion is palpable.
www.palmetto-records.com
Ray Comiskey
RICHARD GALLIANO
Piazzola Forever Dreyfus Jazz
***
Accordion and bandonéon player Galliano, last heard here in a brilliant trio concert a few years ago, heads a strings-dominated septet in this salute to the late, outstanding Argentinian accordionist and bandonéon player Astor Piazzola. Based on Piazzola's arrangements and recorded live last year, it's rhapsodic, passionate, sad and unsentimental music, strongly ensemble-oriented, with relatively limited space for improvisation, but possessed of an undeniable grace and elegance - a tango-based cousin of jazz, if not the full monty. If this is for you, then the bonus is that Galliano is bringing his septet, with solo and second violins, viola, cello, bass and the excellent Hervé Sellin (piano), to perform Piazzola's music at Dublin's Vicar St next Sunday week.
Ray Comiskey
STEFON HARRIS
Blackout Revolution Blue Note
***
Bright, articulate, self-confident and creative, Harris is the best thing to happen to jazz vibraphone - and the marimba, for that matter - in decades. But this new release, based around a quintet fleshed out by alto, keyboards, bass and drums, with occasional guests on flute, piano and percussion, comes very close to easy listening. It's not quite aural wallpaper: Harris is much too intelligent for that. But he has surrounded himself with players who, pianist Xavier Davis apart, never rise above the anonymity of high-level competence. The saving grace is Harris's work; as a soloist he's head and shoulders above everyone else here. Strictly for fans.
Ray Comiskey
