CD Reviews: Royce Campbell.Six By Six (A Jazz Guitar Celebration)
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Posted by: Adminon Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 10:00 PM |
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By John Gilbert
Moon Cycle Records..re-released from 1994..Street date, April 1, 2005
This is one swinging recording. Royce Campbell, along with, but not all
at once, guitarists Pat Martino, John Abercrombie, Larry Coryell, Bucky
Pizzarelli, and Dave Stryker, all of whom are virtuosos of that
instrument. Various bass and drums are interspersed throughout the ten
tracks.
"Love For Sale" This is a can't go wrong tune with both Larry Coryell
and Campbell interpreting this piece with superb ideation. Billy
Drummond on drums really 'gets it' on this number, playing with
understated stylishness. Drummond has adhered to Bird's admonition to
embrace the drums on ballads with a smooth swoosh that encompasses all 4
beats, rather than a whole lot of clutter and fuss. The hi-hat
discreetly takes care of the 2 and 4.
"Happy Blues" Blazing guitars dominate in this rapid fire riff tune by
Campbell, going right to the heart of 4/ 4 bop. A real message in this
tune with a lot of notes to convey it. In a word, it swings to the max.
Billy Drummond keeps time like a Rolex watch (I would like to know more
about him). The four bar shots between Campbell and Coryell are clinics
in jazz improvisation with a bit of clever humor for good measure.
"Darn That Dream" A good tune with a sweet melody played with
extraordinary soulfulness by Royce Campbell and Bucky Pizzarelli.
This is one of the best albums to cross my desk in a while. It gets no
better, only different.
5 STARS
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http://community-2.webtv.net/johnnyjazz/johnnyjazzsjazzpage
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