Customer Reviews

Delta Bound

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

 

 

Some years back, Arbors released a wonderful quartet session featuring Bobby Gordon's Pee Wee/Marsala inspired clarinet with the singular piano mastery of Dave McKenna. It was clearly a brilliant pairing resulting in an equally brilliant cd.

Now we have Dick Hyman, probably the most complete piano giant around, coupled with the thirty something clarinet phenom, Evan Christopher, doing their thing on a program of five Christopher originals and seven oldies that are reminicent of an earlier period in New Orleans.

The cd begins with Tony Parenti's Vieux Carre and ends with Alex Hill's Delta Bound. Bill Huntington's bass and Sheldon Powell's drums keep everything swinging sweetly. There is a lilt to the music, an infectious, toe tapping, head bobbing, pulse that permeates each tune. It's Hyman and Christopher's recording but Huntington and Powell still play major roles in this one's success.

Evan Chrisopher is absolutely brilliant throughout this disc. He plays with strong feelings, sometimes very emotional, always with taste and eloquence. He's not from the Ken Peplowski/Allen Vache school of technical wizardry although he is obviously well schooled. The 'creole' sound originating from Lorenzo Tio through Sidney Bechet and Barney Bigard is more his lineage.

Dick Hyman needs no introduction. He has been one of the best traditional and mainstream pianists for over fifty years now. He's mastered numerous styles of playing and is an exquisite accompanist. He's still at the top of his game and this cd proves he's still got a trick or two up his sleeve.

This one's easy to listen to yet always offers something more with each play. The seemingly effortless flow of each number is mesmerizing, to say the least. Deeper listening rewards on all levels. It's really one of the best cd's I've heard in years.

I was happily led to this CD by a review in The New York Times (12/31/2007, Ben Ratliff). Evan Christopher ranks with Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw as an artist who has created his own sound with the clarinet. His original compositions on this recording merge perfectly with the more traditional pieces, each of which is presented in a fresh way. I agree with the late Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, that Mr. Christopher is "the best clarinetist in the world" today (2005 Montreaux Jazz Festival).

I'm a hesitant fan of traditional jazz. So much that we hear sounds like ameteurs or musicians in decline picking on a simple (they think) form to keep performing. This is the opposite of that- someone of unique gifts choosing a simple platform, but great tunes as a springboard for clarity, expression, and beauty. Great late night music.

I was led to this CD by a review in Jazz Times by Nat Hentoff. As a frustrated clarinet player, he loved this CD and anything Nat Hentoff recommends is good enough for me. I picked up this CD and had the best time I've had in a very long time. You will, too.

All the players are wonderful, but I particularly like how Hyman plays the fewest notes possible to express his ideas. This is a good thing!

Five stars.