Cannonball (album)
| Cannonball | ||||
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| Richie Cole's studio album | ||||
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Publication |
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| Label (s) | Richie Cole Presents | |||
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Format (s) |
CD |
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Title (number) |
14th |
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Mark Perna |
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Studio (s) |
Heid Studios, Aspinwall, Pennsylvania |
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Cannonball is a jazz album by Richie Cole . The recordings, which were made on February 6, and March 20 and 27, 2016 in Heid Studios in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania, were released on October 26, 2018 on Cole's label Richie Cole Presents .
background
In the 2010s saxophonist Richie Cole moved to Pittsburgh, where his daughter lived, and worked in the city's jazz scene and recorded with local musicians. His first album for his own label, Richie Cole Presents was titled Pittsburgh . "The Pittsburgh iteration of his Alto Madness Orchestra accompanied Cole on all of his last six albums, the last of which was Cannonball from 2018," wrote Michael J. West in his obituary for the musician, who died in early May 2020.
When Richie Cole, who brought the term "Alto-Madness" into jazz language in the 1970s and 1980s, began his career, he was lucky enough to meet his idol Cannonball Adderley . The legendary saxophonist invited the young musician and student at the Berklee School of Music to jam with his band.
In an interview for All About Jazz , Cole stated that the famous jazz musician was his favorite alto saxophonist. Like Adderley, Cole could cover a wide range of music - from hard bop to commercial concessions, wrote Rob Rosenblum. All of the tracks on the album, with the exception of Cole's own composition "Bell of the Ball," which pays homage to Adderley, are compositions that Adderley recorded. In contrast to this, Cole created more extensive arrangements; while Adderley played and recorded mostly in quintet or sextet format, Cole made up some simple but effective background arrangements. With JD Chaisson on trumpet and Jerrick Matthews on tenor and on two tracks each with a further alto saxophonist, the arrangements almost have a big band feeling, wrote Rosenblum, but leave plenty of space for the soloists.
The core of the band is formed by a quintet with trombonist Reggie Watkins . With that, Cole preferred the lower trombone to the cornet that Cannonball Adderley normally used. The rhythm section consists of pianist Kevin Moore, bassist Mark Perna and drummer Vince Taglieri.
Track list
- Richie Cole Featuring Reggie Watkins: Cannonball (Richie Cole Presents RCP 003)
- Del Sasser ( Sam Jones ) 4:19
- Dat Dere ( Bobby Timmons ) 4:27
- Stars Fell on Alabama (Frank Perkins, Mitchell Parish ) 5:03
- Matchmaker, Martchmaker (Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick) 3:31
- Jeannine ( Duke Pearson ) 5:53
- Jive Samba ( Nat Adderly ) 6:38
- Bell of the Ball (Richie Cole) 4:16
- Sack O'Woe (Cnnnonball Adderley) 5:28
- Mercy, Mercy, Mercy ( Joe Zawinul ) 3:27
- Save Your Love for Me (Kenya, Burnside, Johnson ) 5:00
- Toy ( Clifford Jordan ) 3:37
- Azule Serape ( Victor Feldman ) 3:34
- Unit 7 (Sam Jones) 4:53
- Save Your Love For Me (Bonus English Version) 5:00
reception
According to Rob Rosenblum, who reviewed the album in "All About Jazz", "the group has an almost Count Basie- like appearance, with clear and concise arrangements". Overall, this is a well thought-out, balanced recording, the author sums up, which fits into the discography of Cole's most recent releases on this label. "Dense arrangements, first-class musicality, and a well-considered selection of songs add to a well-deserved tribute to a great jazz performer and another great alto, proving that the bad boy named Bebop still has a lot of life."
Also in “All About Jazz” Nicholas F. Mondello wrote that Cole was full of energy throughout the session and that he delivered his homage with a personal stamp. Skillful and soulful and with a deep feeling for swing , he has many surprises up his sleeve here, such as the inclusion of trombonist Reggie Watkins. The combination of Cole's light alto and Watkins' soft tones give the lines of the Adderley canon ("Del Sasser", "Dat Dere" and "Sack o Woe") a deep flavor note. Another surprise was a risky up-tempo version of the classic " Mercy, Mercy, Mercy ". Cole's technical skills - always solid and easily carried - enabled him to perform his tricks with a "goblin-like flair" in "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" (a title from Fiddler on the Roof ) and the hard-swinging "Jeanine", "Bell of the Ball" and the Latin "Azule Serape". "Its lines and scat- like inflections are trademarks of a true jazz master," wrote Mondello. “Watkins' approach to improvisation fits Cole's style perfectly. He has a strong JJ Johnson influence with a great sound ("Stars Fell on Alabama", "Save Your Love for Me") and deep swing ("Toy"). "Cole's arranging skills - which resemble his bubbly playing - are consistently good too detect.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Michael J. West: Obituary. JazzTimes, May 4, 2019, accessed May 5, 2020 .
- ↑ Richie Cole: Cannonball. Jazziz, January 24, 2019, accessed May 5, 2020 .
- ↑ a b c Rob Rosenblum: Richie Cole: Cannonball. All About Jazz, February 19, 2019, accessed May 5, 2020 .
- ↑ Richie Cole Featuring Reggie Watkins: Cannonball at Discogs
- ↑ Nicholas F. Mondello: ichie Cole Featuring Reggie Watkins: Cannonball. All About Jazz, July 5, 2019, accessed May 5, 2020 .