Customer Reviews

Solid

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

 

 

A classic Shaw album that I am grateful to 32 Jazz for re-releasing and getting out there and into people's ears. There Will Never Be Another You displays a beautiful solo by Woody, complimented by Kenny Garrett's flowing high-energy lines. A must for the jazz collection.

This is indeed a solid straightahead jazz album from the late great trumpeter. By the early 1980s, Woody Shaw began to concentrate more often on jazz standards--examples of Woody's "new" interest in the mainstream post-bop tradition in this set are "There Will Never Be Another You," "You Stepped Out of a Dream," "Speak Low" and "It Might as Well Be Spring."

Kenny Garrett (alto sax) and Kenny Barron (piano) make notable contributions. Both players compliment Shaw's style in that both are well-versed in straightahead bop playing but can also move "outside" the chord progressions with elegance and come back "in" with ease.

The highlight of this CD for me is a long, poised reading of "It Might as Well Be Spring." Woody & co. take this ballad at a slow spacious tempo, and the Woody's interpretation shows the restraint of a veteran improviser--a solo in the great balladeering tradition of Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard. The album has plenty of momentum too--check out the Latin-tinged version of "You Stepped Out of a Dream" and the shifting between swing and Latin feel on "Speak Low." The uptempo take on the "Woody Woodpecker Theme" is a sly, hip closer that will put a grin on your face.

Nothing earth-shattering here--just a well put-together album and a late recording by one of great jazz trumpeters.

This is the only Woody Shaw CD I've purchased to date, so I cannot comment on its relative value compared to his other work as a leader. However, I have no real qualms about giving it a 5-star rating. It's a strong, enjoyable set, and the recording (made in Rudy Van Gelder's studio in 1986) nicely captures Woody's splendid trumpet sound. Woody was great! I agree with the previous reviewer that the ballad "It Might As Well Be Spring" is the high point, but it's all very good. I really enjoy young Kenny Garrett (alto sax) on this recording--his playful, jaunty lines and round-ish tone almost steal the show on three of the tracks. Kenny Barron (piano) has some nice solo space and his style contributes to an overall modern sound. The drumming is interesting and a strong asset (but never dominating), while the bass is heard fairly prominently in the mix. While not earth-shattering, this is great-sounding, accessible, modern jazz played at a very high level.

Update: I've recently acquired Shaw's STEPPING STONES: LIVE AT VILLAGE VANGUARD, recorded a few years before SOLID. These are very different albums, but both, I think, are deserving of 5 star ratings. STEPPING STONES is much more cutting-edge (check out some of the rave Amazon reviews), while SOLID is more mainstream. All depends on your taste, but if you're like me, you'll dig `em both.