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CD Reviews: Frank Potenza Trio, “Old, New, Borrowed & Blue ”
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Posted by: editoron Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 11:34 AM |
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By: Edward Blanco
A protégé of the legendary Joe Pass, veteran jazz guitarist and educator Frank Potenza releases his eight solo album offering ten tracks of uncommon material drawing from the past, blending with the new, borrowing lines and providing a dash of the blue—all in keeping true to the title of the album. Potenza leads his LA-based trio, comprised of friends Joe Bagg (Hammond B3 organ), and Steve Barnes (drums) on a musical trek that treads over territory not usually associated with jazz through interesting arrangements of the “old” Bobby Gentry pop classic “Ode to Billie Joe,” and Carole King's “You've Got A Friend.”
The guitarist augments the organ trio by adding special guest, flautist Holly Hofmann who, as David Franklin of Jazz Times states “...possesses one of the most exquisite flute tones in jazz.” While the lady shares the stage with Potenza on a beautiful duet rendition of Victor Young's “A Weaver of Dreams,” she does emerge as a main character on such vital cuts as Lee Morgan's “Party Time,” and the hard-swinging Jimmy Smith opener “Ready and Able.” But this is not Hofmann's CD it's Potenza's and his contribution is pronounced throughout the album. With a taste of the “blues”, he picks bluesy strings “borrowing” lines from Miles Davis on the intro to the Fats Domino classic “I'm Walkin'” where incidentally, he also lends appreciable vocals. Drummer Barnes shows his chops with some rumblings of his own on this one.
Showing a bit of the cool, Potenza dishes out one of his best performances on the Wes Montgomery tune “Road Song” and proceeds to delight with a terrific read of the jazz standard “Star Eyes” where organist Bagg distinguishes himself with a lively solo. Providing something “new,” Potenza delivers the Brazilian/samba colored “Jacaranda” highlighted by strong cymbal accents from the drummer and another fine organ line. The guitarist swings again with the perky “I Wanna Be Loved” providing vocals and more nimble finger play on the guitar laying down some very nice riffs.
True to form, Frank Potenza's splashy new album, “Old, New, Borrowed & Blue” presents a musical landscape containing a splattering of the old, the new and the blue and further borrows a few bars from others, forging a special session of contempor ary jazz.
Year: 2009
Label: CAPRI Records
Artist Web: www.frankpotenza.com
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