Customer Reviews

Rev-elation

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This music on vibraphonist Joe Locke's Rev-elation CD is a tribute to Milt Jackson, as indicated by the very name of the quartet. Recorded live with superb up-front sound at Ronnie Scott's in the spring of 2005, the music bubbles over with the high spirits that marked Bag's music. The program reflects the style of music Jackson wrote, performed, and recorded under his own name, rather than as a member of the MJQ. What we get here is a high-class mixture of bop, ballads, and blues, with a touch of soul, and always a deeply swinging groove. The music is straightforward but sophisticated, with intelligent arrangements on the "heads" which always keep the listener engaged. Locke and pianist Mike LeDonne each contribute a swinging original to the program. Every tune is full of interest but highlights include the set-opening "The Prophet Speaks", the mid-tempo "Young and Foolish", the slightly funky title track, the swinging "Opus De Funk", a moving rendition of Johnny Mandel's "Close Enough for Love", and the romping "Used to Be Jackson" by Ray Brown which closes the set.

Joe Locke may have a slightly more aggressive approach to the vibes than Jackson. Certainly he swings strongly at every tempo and is a most compelling soloist. His coda on "Close Enough for Love" is breathtaking. The rest of the band which includes Mike LeDonne on keyboards, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Mickey Roker on drums, is of Rolls Royce quality. I must admit it took me a few spins to get used to the sound of LeDonne's Fender Rhodes which is heard on several tracks (acoustic piano on the rest), but once I did, I realized how much it adds to the ensemble sound. Further, LeDonne is an excellent bop based, swinging soloist, whatever piano he plays, and he shares solo honors with Locke throughout the CD.

To sum up, this 58 minute CD is full of swinging, soulful, and very satisfying jazz music. I never tire of hearing it. It is surely one of the best CD's I have heard in 2005, and should not be overlooked by lovers of straight ahead jazz.

. . . fast emerging as the top jazz vibest on the scene today.

Primarily, I think, by reason of the huge range of settings he works out of.

Let's see. We've got his killer band, 4 Walls of Freedom, with two spectacular releases; his group co-led by Geoff Keezer; his marimba duo with Christos Rafalides, his duos with pianist Frank Kimbrough; and his noir project with Bob Sneider--all exceptional, by the way.

This modernist take on the music of Milt "Bags" Jackson, the man who established the vibraphone as a legitimate jazz instrument, only solidifies his growing reputation. Recorded live at Ronnie Scott's famous venue in London, it glows with warmth and presence.

The band, consisting of the underrated Mike LaDonne on piano and Fender Rhodes, Bob Crenshaw (Sonny Rollins's longtime band member) on bass, and bebop/post-bop warrior Mickey Roker on drums, cooks up a quietstorm throughout this entirely engaging session.

Music of great accomplishment, and entirely worth acquiring.