Customer Reviews

Think Before You Think

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Mr Lovano's caressing sax, Mr Stewart's fills either with brushes or cymbal splashes, Mr Cohen's solo or counter melody behind Mr Lovano's solo, together with Mr Holland's foundation, make GOODBYE one of the highlights of this fine album and excellent programme of music. It was first recorded in 1989 for the Japanese label Jazzcity and is reissued by Evidence. The sound quality is outstanding. There are three standards and one classic (LITTLE NILES by Mr Randy Weston),and six originals: the title track by Mr Stewart, two by Mr Holland, one by Mr Lovano, and two by Mr Cohen. The ballads and slower numbers, such as Mr Holland's PROCESSIONAL work especially well and to me are the real meat in this delectable sandwich. Though it has to be added, when they swing on the uptempo numbers, they swing. The "colour" in this music - if I may use that word in the Ellingtonion sense of BLUE DUSK, SEPIA PANORAMA etc)- is notable and quite beautiful. Much of the credit for this must go to drummer Mr Stewart who has the touch and skill to fill out the canvas created by the other players. Mr Lovano became in the 90's one of the music's foremost practitioners. This album captures him at the peak of his formidable powers and the sheer beauty of his tone, his sound on the ballads is well heard here. Mr Holland has been an acknowledged leader on his instrument for nearly 30 years. He's in good company on this album. Mr Cohen may be less well known but he holds his own in this exalted company with an especially fine touch and harmonic sensibility - his RAIN features an excellent solo from him and Mr Holland. This album is going to get a lot of playing by me.

Bill Stewart can turn a rhythm upside-down,inside-out, and backwards with nary a thought, and with the skill and finesse that only Tony Williams or Bill Bruford have heretofore mustered. If you love traditional Jazz in the vein of the old Blue Note era then you HAVE TO HAVE THIS RECORD (for that matter you need all three of Bill's solo efforts)! If you don't then you aren't really listening to Jazz anyway, but rather SCMOOZEPOP!

The tunes are well crafted and the execution is "out there."

Buy it or "BE SQUARE! "

To think that Stewart was only 21 at the time of the recording boggles the mind to his playing ability. Conceptually, Bill Stewart's approach to this album is inspiring. He takes some great solos, and it is really interesting to compare his playing from this recording at the beginning of his recording career to the stuff he is currently producing. Bill's playing is alot more linear on this album (compared to Pat Metheny Trio, for example), very subdivisional.

I personally don't like all the tunes on this disc, but the musicianship demonstrated bridges my personal preferences towards composition.

If you dig Bill, buy it.