April Kisses

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April Kisses
Studio album by Bucky Pizzarelli

Publication
(s)

1999

Label (s) Arbors Records

Format (s)

CD

Genre (s)

Mainstream jazz , swing

Title (number)

20th

running time

55:25

occupation
chronology
Passion Guitars
(1999) 		April Kisses Italian Intermezzo
(2000)

April Kisses is a solo album by jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli . The recordings made in Paramus (New Jersey) on March 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 10th, 1999, were released in 1999 on Arbors Records .

background

Bucky Pizzarelli played 20 short solo pieces on his solo album; he used his seven-string acoustic benedetto archtop guitar. They reflect the style and compositions of the early jazz guitar pioneers Carl Kress , Eddie Lang and George Van Eps , wrote Michael G. Nastos. This is the pre-electric era before Charlie Christian ; also, in brief, new editions of three-minute shellac records that were recorded in the 1930s. Pizzarelli follows Van Eps' innovation of adding a bass string to his guitar that enhances the instrument's self-accompaniment capabilities. This 7th string helps to create a gently swinging acoustic guitar sound that is as distinctive and soulful as the Spanish guitar, wrote Mike Neely.

With this, Pizzarelli emphasizes that he sees himself in the tradition of these colleagues, mentors and historical personalities. The suite “After Thoughts” is dedicated to Kress, as is the subsequent “The End of a Love Affair”. "Slow Burning" is related to George M. Smith and "Tears" to Django Reinhardt . In addition, there is the Pizzarelli original "Indy Annie", based on " Back Home Again in Indiana ", the Kress number "Sutton Mutton" and the slower Van Eps number "Squattin 'at the Grotto". Pizzarelli plays a polka-like, fast line in the chordally accentuated homage to the bassist Slam Stewart in "Slamerino". "Please" was a ballad that Eddie Lang played in 1932 with Bing Crosby . In addition to the pop standard “ Smoke Gets in Your Eyes ”, Bucky Pizzarelli's compositions “Indy Annie”, the aforementioned “Samerino”, “Stompin for Boz” and “Silk City Blues” are added.

Track list

  • Bucky Pizzarelli: April Kisses (Arbors Jazz ARCD19227)
  1. Helena (Carl Kress) 2:56
  2. April Kisses (Eddie Lang) 3:32
  3. Afterthoughts, Pt. 1 (Carl Kress) 2:05
  4. Afterthoughts, Pt. 2 (Carl Kress) 1:08
  5. Afterthoughts, Pt. 3 (Carl Kress) 1:07
  6. The End of a Love Affair ( Edward Redding ) 3:01
  7. Slow Burning (George M. Smith) 3:35
  8. Tears ( Stéphane Grappelli , Django Reinhardt ) 3:20
  9. Love Song (Carl Kress) 3:12
  10. It Must Be True ( Gus Arnheim , Harry Barris , Gordon Clifford ) 2:38
  11. Indy Annie (Bucky Pizzarelli) 1:46
  12. Sutton Mutton (Carl Kress) 3:04
  13. Come Sunday ( Duke Ellington ) 2:58
  14. Squattin 'at the Grotto ( George Van Eps ) 2:45
  15. Please ( Ralph Rainger , Leo Robin ) 2:18
  16. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes ( Otto Harbach , Jerome Kern ) 3:38
  17. Slamerino (Bucky Pizzarelli) 2:25
  18. Peg Leg Shuffle (Carl Kress) 2:20
  19. Stompin 'for Boz (Bucky Pizzarelli) 2:13
  20. Silk City Blues (Bucky Pizzarelli) 5:24

reception

Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 4½ (out of five) stars in Allmusic and praised, “Pizzarelli's sound should be brought to the raw material market and sold as a public offer. This music is much more precious than gold bars. Only the lack of a rhythm section could prevent more listeners from approaching this beautifully conceived work. Those who don't need a bass or drums will certainly appreciate this. "

Carl Kress (around 1947). Photography by William P. Gottlieb .

According to David Adler, who reviewed the album on All About Jazz , the five numbers Carl Kress composed are standout and should help rekindle interest in this often overlooked musician. Kress' "Love Song" may be the highlight of the album, and his "Sutton Mutton (Take it on the Lamb)" swing hard and sound like a slower version of "Cherokee". Kress and his colleagues who played archtops were clearly influenced by classical music: "After Thoughts", a three-part suite by Kress, sounds like something Maurice Ravel could have written, and the one track by Eddie Lang, "April Kisses" , sounds like a baroque minuet with jazz bonds. George Van Eps '"Squattin' at the Grotto", Django Reinhardt's great "Tears" and the four Pizarelli originals are further highlights, wrote Adler. The sound range of the seven-string guitar becomes clear in Duke Ellington's “Come Sunday”, and large, piano-like chords sound in “End of a Love Affair”. A better solo jazz guitar record is difficult to find, the author sums up. “To be more precise, a record that brings the often neglected archtop guitar music of the 30s to life is a real treasure. Bucky Pizzarelli does a lot to keep this music alive. "

Also in All About Jazz, Mike Neely noted about Pizzarelli's role models that this rich, multifaceted legacy was part of this very American music as interpreted by Pizzarelli. April Kisses is a loving homage that brings an often forgotten era of jazz history to life and extends this rich legacy to the present. Bucky Pizzarelli is a great guide into this world, a world that slowly draws the listener into the myriad shades and voices of the acoustic jazz guitar.

Jack Sohmer argued in JazzTimes that there was no question of Bucky Pizzarelli's stature in his field, but that there was a problem with these traces of overly narrow microphones. This undoubtedly leads to a more authentic reproduction of the acoustic properties of the instrument, but also increases undesirable, non-musical finger noises, which in extreme cases are as annoying as scratching on a blackboard.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Jack Sohmer: April Kisses. JazzTimes, January 1, 2000, accessed April 7, 2020 .
  2. ↑ a b Mike Neely: April Kisses. All About Jazz, August 6, 2000, accessed April 7, 2020 .
  3. ↑ a b Review of Michael G. Nastos' album at Allmusic (English). Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  4. ↑ Bucky Pizzarelli: April Kisses at Discogs
  5. ↑ David Adler: April Kisses. All About Jazz, January 1, 2000, accessed April 7, 2020 .