CD Reviews: Winard Harper Sextet “Make It Happen” CD-2006 Piadrum Records
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Posted by: adminon Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 01:00 PM |
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By Glenn Astarita
Prior to his launching of “The Harper Brothers Quintet,” drummer Winard Harper commenced his then, budding career with sax god, Dexter Gordon. And he proceeded to hone his performing persona with vocal great, Betty Carter. Nonetheless, Harper is a jazz firebrand who shines as a passionate student of the art form. On this divergent release, he conveys his multifaceted abilities with snappy fills while steering his band thru brisk bop-vamps and more!
With punchy horns choruses and radiant soloing by trumpeter Josh Evans and alto saxophonist Antonio Hart among others, the changeable sextet abides by an up-tempo disposition. On this endeavor, the musicians partake in warmly stated balladry, African percussion vamps and gritty organ grooves, coupled with Harper’s variable rhythmic forays. Variety is the key, as the ensemble covers a gamut of cross-cultural, jazz induced mechanisms. Either way, Harper is a dashing drummer who encompasses traditional mainstream stylizations with elements of flash and élan.
The musicians periodically throttle the energetic proceedings back a step or two via blithely arranged, toe-tapping grooves. But on the turbo-charged swing/bop numbers, the drummer often injects multihued accents with zippy fills. On the piece titled “After Hours,” pianist T.W. Sample renders a Professor Longhair motif amid a drawling, walking-blues pattern. Overall, Harper’s methodology translates into a smashing success, brimming with a charismatic sound and scope, largely driven by finesse and sheer firepower. (Release date: August 8, 2006) - Glenn Astarita
www.piadrum.com
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