Customer Reviews

Pieces of Jade

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

 

 

This album gives a great idea about the inside of the jazz players world, the rehearsal tape of LaFaro with Bill Evans makes both of them human and understandable, the interview is clarifying the way LaFaro and Evans were thinking.

All the tunes are beautiful and works of art by themselves, I want to pick out the outro tune 'Memories for Scotty' by Don Friedman. It is a beautiful solo piano tribute to his friend and colleague who died way to young. This album is a must have not only for Scott LaFaro and Bill Evans fans, also for Don Friedman fans - he is the main pianist on this album, and he's playing really great - and jazz lovers in general.

It's a musical and historical treasure of great value!

Absolutely amazing documentation of Scott Lafaro prior to his work with Bill Evans. Everything that was to be with the Bill Evans Trio shows part of its genesis in each of the tracks. Each solo Scott takes is fresh & shows his constant experimentation with time, chords and melody.

I was as excited to hear these unreleased tracks as I was when all of those "undiscovered" Jaco tracks came out. While many of the "lost Jaco tapes" were often musically disappointing, these new LaFaro treasures are a thrilling addition to his too short legacy.

LaFaro is clearly the standout player on nearly every track, showing a maturity that he chronologically should never have attained. It is breathtaking to hear him again, seemingly resurrected and as fresh today as he was during his lifetime.

As great as the music on this CD is, it is the 20+ minutes of rehearsal patter between LaFaro and Bill Evans that captured me utterly. We get to "eavesdrop" as these two artists discuss the chord changes and arrangement of "My Foolish Heart" (which they went on to record several times creating several masterful masterpieces) in depth and at length. To hear LaFaro speak, sing falsetto along with his bass, and volley ideas with Bill Evans, was to this listener, a treasure beyond words. This track alone adds to the LaFaro mystique a level of humanity heretofore undocumented in the too few pictures and film clips that exist of this giant of jazz. This CD is a necessary addition to the library of all who marveled at the musical contributions of this jazz titan, whose career was cut tragically short.

Scott LaFaro had such a short life for such a huge talent. His passion was unboundless; a star that is missed. He left us with such few example of his work, that we owe it to is legacy to hear all that was recorded.

This CD will make an excellent addition to any jazz or genre music collection.This is truly a jazz musician that was ahead of his time, this is definately worth listening to.