Cava Menzies/Nick Phillips, Moment To Moment (Nick Phillips Music)
Spare,
lyrical, beautiful and elegant. Those four attributes sum up the musical
intersection of pianist Cava Menzies and trumpeter Nick Phillips, who are just
out with their debut recording backed by bassist Jeff Chambers and drummer Jaz
Sawyer. Menzies teaches music by day and is the daughter of jazz trumpeter
Eddie Henderson. Phillips is a longtime staff producer at Concord Records. They
first met in the summer of 2012 when Phillips subbed on a Menzies gig one night
– and their chemistry was instant.
Menzies
and Phillips know how to capture a mood, and explore it without becoming
tiresome in any way.
It
starts early with the opener, Jimmy Rowles’ jazz classic “The Peacocks” and
continues through the American Songbook and a couple of originals (Menzies’
“Mal’s Moon” and Phillips’ “You”), as well as a haunting take on Elvis
Costello’s “Almost Blue.” Favorites: “The Peacocks,” “Almost Blue,” and muted
takes on Kenny Barron’s “Phantoms” and the classic ballad “You Don’t Know What
Love Is.” Throughout this CD, they let the music breathe, allowing us to savor
the melody and the mood. The Menzies-Phillips simpatico is so fine that it
wouldn’t be surprising to hear any of these eight tracks – perhaps all of them
– resurface on various movie soundtracks. Moment
To Moment is that good.
Anton Schwartz, FlashMob (Antonjazz)
Bay
Area tenor saxophonist Anton Schwartz’s latest CD is his first CD as a leader
in seven years. It’s a splendid outing shaped by his skills as a player and a
composer. All but two tracks are Schwartz originals. A wide range of styles and
emotions surfaces throughout. Two tracks, “Spurious Causes” and “The
Contender,” have a decided Jazz Messengers hard-bop ensemble feel. The gritty
“Swamp Thing,” which feels rooted not far from the Louisiana bayou, is a funky
showcase for trumpeter Dominick Farinacci. The New York-based horn man proves
himself a great front-line foil for Schwartz throughout the project. Also
notable: the way drummer Lorca Hart uses his cymbals and drums to set up
“Cumulonimbus” with a bit of thunder and lightning, and the ballad “Dawn’s
Song,” a feature for Schwartz on which the leader is joined only by pianist
Taylor Eigsti. Schwartz’s whimsy as a writer is evident on the title track and
“Glass Half Missing.”
Rossano Sportiello,
Eddie Metz, Nicki Parrott, It’s a Good Day (Arbors)
There
is much to be said for musical simpatico. These trio-mates have it in great
abundance in live concert – and on the recording studio, as this newest Arbors
CD attests. Their forte is in gems from the Great American Songbook, jazz
standards and adding jazz twists to classical music. The latter is a natural
fit because of Milan native Rossano Sportiello’s classical piano training and
amazing chops in so many styles.
Favorites:
the band’s elegant take on Quincy Jones’ ballad "Quintessence,” its romp through
“Lavender Blue,” which Burl Ives sang in the 1948 Disney film So Dear to My
Heart, Sportiello’s solo take on “This Is No Laughing Matter,” and
bassist-singer Nicki Parrott’s warm and vibrant vocal approach to “Pick
Yourself Up” and the Peggy Lee classic “It’s a Good Day.” Other treats: the
band’s jazz adventures on two classical pieces: Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata” and
Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Drummer Eddie Metz Jr.’s subtle surprises
enhance his solid swing. As evidenced by this project, it is great to see
Rachel Dombers carrying on the work of her late husband, Arbors founder Mat
Dombers, who passed away in September 2012.
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