Customer Reviews

Bass By Pettiford & Burke

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

 

 

i bought this CD because it was one of the few Oscar Pettiford albums around. Never DID i realize that i would fall hard for the rare sound produced by Vinnie Burke's quartet/ whose music consists of 8 songs on the 2nd half of the album. Burke's quartet consists of himself on bass Ronnie Odrich on clarinet/ Don Burns on accordion and Joe Cinderella on guitar. The Quartet of Vinnie Burke produces a sound of independence - and 1 so original It nearly steals the whole record.. Most people would not equate the accordion with JAZZ/ but it works.. The 6 tracks by Oscar Pettiford's Quintet also measure up - Pettiford's use of both bass and cello and his employment of Julius Watkins on the french horn make this music stand above a lot of other melodic forms of bop. BETHLEHEM was a great jazz label/ recording odd albums by big artists 'bass by pettiford/ burke' is a stirring example of how a small label can produce a piece of pure ART.

Originally the two sessions on this CD were 10" Bethlehem dates that were combined on a 12" LP and issued in 1955. The first half features Oscar Pettiford with Charlie Rouse (ts) Julius Watkins (frhrn) and Duke Jordan (p). SEXTETTE, a Gerry Mulligan tune that he first recorded with Chet Baker in 1953, is taken up-tempo and has some great Rouse tenor on it. GOLDEN TOUCH is a Pettiford feature, and his powerful, booming sound is well-captured. Watkins gets the spotlight on the ballad EDGE OF LOVE. Throughout these sides there is excellent crisp brush work by drummer Ron Jefferson.

The Vinnie Burke sides showcase Ronnie Odrich (cl) Don Burns (accor) and Joe Cinderella (g). Odrich, who I'd never heard of before, has a swinging modern approach, similar to Buddy DeFranco. He comes across best on the up-tempo items (THE CONTINENTAL and, especially, HONEYSUCKLE ROSE). SOFTLY AS IN A MORNING SUNRISE is a feature for Burke with outer space sounds from Cinderella's guitar in the background - a very strange performance. Burns takes a nice solo on ON THE ALAMO, more single noted than chordal, which gives his axe a relaxed, light feel. My only complaint with these Burke sides is that there's a bit of distortion on the original tapes that make the CD sound less than perfect. But I haven't seen this CD around too much, and if you dig Pettiford or Burke or modern jazz bass in general, you might want to latch on to it if you do find it.

I think this is a great album. The song that a previous reviewer was probably talking about was "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise". It is a solo by bass player and my dad, Vinnie Burke.
Both bassists do a fine job of not only entertaining but allowing us to feel the heart and soul of their instrument.