CD Reviews: Darin Clendenin, “Revenir”
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Posted by: editoron Friday, February 06, 2009 - 08:55 AM |
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By Edward Blanco
Right from the opening “Monty's Calypso,” dedicated to legendary jazz pianist Monty Alexander, Darin Clendenin charms his way into you jazz space with an inspiring performance on the piano on his new breezy album, “Revenir.” The album symbolizes a return to significant times in his life that he expresses best when playing the music, ergo the title,“Revenir,” which is French for “meaning to return.” Clendenin may not be a recognizable name for jazz audiences from the East or the South but nevertheless, this musician is recognized as one of the finest pianist and keyboard artists in the Pacific Northwest area of the country. Based in Seattle, Washington, he records this album in cooperation with The Jazz Project, a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit jazz support organization designed to promote jazz artists and music from the region and serves as the window to the jazz world for musicians hailing from Whatcom, County, WA.
Except for the finale, this is an all original music CD containing tasteful contemporary straight ahead jazz recorded with a traditional piano trio consisting of Clipper Anderson on the bass and Mark Ivester pounding the drums and an occasional percussion instrument. “Revenir” is warm and inviting rhythm-based music loaded with catchy melodies and sprawling delicious piano lines that Clendenin masters with ease. A sampling of “September” will more than convince you this is a recording worth spinning often. “Nigerian Prayer” features drummer Ivester on one of the more percussive numbers here.
Two outstanding pieces played back to back, are the spicy “Machismo Mouse” where the pianist demonstrates his more than ample piano chops and shares space with bassist Anderson who lays down a nice bass line solo followed by more of the drummers work on the sticks and then there is the light emotion-filled almost ballad-like, “Volver,”meaning to return in Spanish, emphasizing the theme of the album. Paying tribute to Thelonious Monk, the pianist pens “Monkfish” an eerie Monk-like number that recalls the great one.
With Ivester taking on the brushes and the bassist playing soft supporting bass chords, Clendenin withdraws a bit on his beautiful ballad piece “Aleta” while delivering a decidedly smooth jazz textured piece of music on the very nice “Glendonwynne” and ends the session with a somber read to the Wright& Waters standard “Us& Them,” completing one of the finest piano trio recordings to be discovered.
Year: 2009
Label: The Jazz Project
Artist Web: www.darinclendenin.com
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