CD Reviews: Seamus Blake Quartet “Live in Italy”
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Posted by: editoron Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 01:13 PM |
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By: Edward Blanco
Tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake is one of the finest sidemen in the New York jazz scene having never recorded live until now. In February 2007, Blake and his quartet took a tour of Italy recording sessions at Palermo, Senigallia and Cesenatico for the Italian jazz label Jazz Eyes. “Live in Italy” is a 2-CD set featuring pianist David Kikoski, drummer Rodney Green and Danton Boller on double-bass—laying down nine extended pieces of boppish jazz with compositions from Ellington, Van Heusen/DeLange, John Scofield, pianist Kikoski and Blake himself.
If you prefer the music brief and to the point, this may not be to your liking, all of the pieces are long in duration with “String Quartet in G Minor” topping off at seventeen-minutes plus and the shortest tune, “Ladeirinha” coming in at just over eight-minutes. Nevertheless, the music is lively, engaging and full of creative material one may not expect. Case in point is Blake's tune “Way Out of Willy” where Blake is heard using a wah-wah and other horn affect making his instrument sing much like a guitar—is quite unexpec ted and pretty funky. This tune however belongs to pianist Kikoski who delivers his best piano chops of the album.
Another standout performance, this time from Blake himself, comes on Ellington's “The Feeling Of Jazz” featuring a torrid saxophone performance from the leader. He's just as pronounced on Van Heusen's beautiful classic ballad “Darn That Dream,” though tempered at times, his high-pitched tenor sounds almost like he's actually playing the alto here. Pianist Kikoski weaves his magic again turning in another sizzling performance on Scofield's “Dance Me Home” as Blake seems content to share the limelight for one hell of a finale.
The live setting does add to the recording as you hear resounding approval from the audience at the end of several tracks giving it that exciting personal touch missing in studio recordings. Seamus Blake seems to have a winner on his hands with “Live in Italy,” his first live recording which just may be one of the elite albums of this year.
Year: 2008
Label: Jazz Eyes
Artist Web: www.seamusblake.com
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