Customer Reviews

Arrival of Victor Feldman

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Victor Feldman's debut is auspicious! This trio, with the great bassist Scott LaFaro and the sensitive drummer Stan Levey, shows fresh versions of standards and a jazzy waltz written by Chopin. Feldman's re-harmonizations and creative solos on piano & vibes are wonderful. You must check it now! Brunno Townsend (Pianist, Composer, Arranger & Producer)

Although I wouldn't have minded fewer tunes and longer solos, count this recording a win-win. Les Koenig's Contemporary label made beautifully "imaged" recordings--not the dimensionless, "flat," in-your-face Van Gelder sound of the East Coast Blue Note label but three-dimensional, spacious, inviting sound that captures a piano or acoustic bass as well as any recordings made in 2008.

Listen to the grit and gristle of each note played by Scottie LaFaro (today, practically all acoustic bass players sound the same--lots of volume and little personality or character, whether due to the player's set-up, studio equipment, or the mixing). Feldman's piano is not as developed as his vibes work at this early stage in his career, so there's lots of space (and solo room) for LaFaro's majestic sound and unstoppable drive. In fact, it's probably no exaggeration to say the date is as much Scottie's as Victor's. The latter makes a favorable impression; the former puts on a clinic! Not to be missed by any acoustic bass player or admirer (the recorded sound of the bass at Contemporary records is, as usual, unequalled).

Feldman shows why he was considered a prodigy, someone who was quickly welcomed on competitive American soil, where he quickly found employment in the L.A. studios as well as with groups such as those of Cannonball and Miles. He's supremely melodic, with fresh voicings and a unique take on Red Garland's block-chorded style (it's unfortunate the latter was given few opportunities outside the studios of Blue Note and Prestige). This is a "musician's album," meant to impress the kind of listener who can appreciate a great solo by Bird, Diz, or Bud.

I have enjoyed this LP for many years now. It was recorded in 1958
and these three GREAT musicians are no longer with us: the virtuoistic VICTOR FELDMAN/Piano & Vibes, the rock solid bassist SCOTT LAFARO and the impeccable STAN LEVY on drums. This is much more than a casual listen and is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Victor Feldman was an incredible musician and this trio with Scott LaFaro and Stan Levey is a must. His fine work on Piano & Vibes is redoubtable and the repertoire is wonderful. You must check it now! Brunno Townsend (Pianist, Composer, Arranger and Producer)

This great but little known pianist/percussionist burns it up on piano and vibraphone. This alone is reason enough to buy the CD but for fans of jazz bass playing this disc is a must have. Scott LaFaro not only plays at his peak but is wonderfully recorded with both a good drummer and lots of solo space. It's easy to recommend this CD.

For those of you looking for a first-class remaster of Feldman & LaFaro's disc, this is the one -- it differs from the regular Contemporary CD transfer in being an ultra-high-fidelity K2 20-bit remaster, done by Japanese Victor Entertainment in 2001. It was released in a fun (and very rugged) mini-LP case with a very soft cloth for the interior disc sleeve.

You'll find K2s of other Scott LaFaro sessions -- Bill Evans' Sunday at the Village Vanguard session has been re-transfered to CD with the K2 process now, though not as a mini-LP. (In the case of the Evans disc, look for the entry with the red border around the original album cover.) But a lot of the remasters (like 'Arrival') were a limited run whose rights weren't transfered to Contemporary, and are now virtually impossible to come by.

Incidentally, this disc (VICJ-60790) is a K2, but the other mini-LP for Arrival is not. That's VICJ-41698 and the Amazon photo resembles the K2 import, but the yellow side-sash uses a calligraphic rather than a serif font.

You can find your way around these releases by looking for info at 'minilps' net.

This transfer to CD (VICJ-41698) is NOT a K2 20-bit remaster, but it is in a mini-LP sleeve. The other mini-LP for Arrival (VICJ-60790) IS a K2. VICJ-41698 resembles the K2 import, but the yellow side-sash uses a calligraphic rather than the serif font used on the K2 side-sash.

You can find your way around these releases by looking for info at 'minilps' net.

This is a light little CD that fans of Bill Evans or Dave Brubeck should enjoy. The tracks here are all cheerful and bouncy--good early morning jazz. Feldman has a nice touch on vibes and piano and is ably supported by bassist Scott LaFaro. LaFaro also played bass on Ornette Coleman's incomprehensible, if groundbreaking album, Free Jazz. LaFaro died at the tragically young age of 25, in an automobile accident in Flint, New York just days recording some classic sessions with Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard.

Victor Feldman is also the pianist/arranger on the Miles Davis album, Seven Steps to Heaven.

The Arrival is no earth shattering classic, but it is a good piece of fun.