Customer Reviews

Form

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

 

 

In the course of exploring further into any form of music, we all come across CDs that have the right mix of musicians, who play a perfect set that makes us wonder, "Why isn't that album lauded, rather than being obscure?". This is such a CD. From my perspective, other jazz albums that would fall into this category include Stanley Turrentine "Sugar", the first Bill Evans/Tony Bennett album, Joe Locke/Frank Kimbrough "Saturn's Child", and Lee Morgan "Sidewinder", to name only a few.

The stellar lineup on "Form" includes Harrell, Joe Lovano, Danilo Perez, Charlie Haden, and Paul Motion, who have all since spun-off, leading their own groups into new esoteric orbits. However, here the playing is post-bop, contemporary jazz, and the music is still relevant. The recording is excellent, with each of the musicians given enough room to solo, as well as play as an ensemble. Tom Harrell's horn playing ties it all together and is spot on - but then most of his music is. Highly recommended.

This is a heavy order to myself: reviewing a recording that is highly acclaimed by some other jazz-fans, regarding an artist that I admire very much on the CD's with Helen Merrill (see my review of You and the Nigt and the Music, Helen Merrill)but...
in this case it could'nt please me anyway. The music sounds as most jazz sounds for instance at the North Sea Jazzfestival in The Hague (now in Rotterdam) when you stroll along yhe many music-halls. Nothing special, reminding you of the average recordings of so many other trupet-players of a high level (Wallace Rooney, Lee Morgan, Woody Shaw, etc: artists, orherwise, honourable to be compared with, that needs no explaining).
Exception for me is 'Januari Spring' where the famous sidemen of Harrell on this CD are given room to create their own special thing and a sensitive atmosphere develops.
May be I must continue the acquaintance with the music of Harrell to get a profounder idea and understanding of it. But it can also be that Helen Merrill had a invisible influence that only works in her presence. So why not planning the next recording, inviting her to listen and inspire?! She lives in New York, just like Tom Harrell (as far as I know). The result can be breathtaking!

Very well balanced set with great ensemble playing and many choice notes from Harrell !
Highly reommended.