CD Reviews: The Vinson Valega Group - Awake
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Posted by: editoron Monday, July 02, 2007 - 10:23 PM |
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By: Edward Blanco
Drummer Vinson Valega is a consummate professional musician with strong political convictions. This latest release is essentially a lively musical statement attempting to link jazz, defined as a pursuit of freedom through individual expression, with the pursuit and the maintenance of democracy through vigilance and by being “awake,’ as opposed to falling a sleep at the wheel.
A lofty and noble ideal, but frankly who cares? Jazz is about music not politics and the real important message Valega succeeds in making here is, that Awake is one heck of a musical statement. A sensational session of progressive mainstream grooves with shades of hard bop, Valega’s group delivers an outstanding performance.
The Vinson Valega group is a sextet consisting of Valega (drums), Jon Cowherd (piano), Josh Ginsburg (bass), Anton Denner (alto, flute, piccolo), Chris Bacas (tenor, soprano, clarinet), and Terell Stafford (trumpet). Except for the finale written by the late pianist James Williams, all of the tunes are original compositions from Valega and some members of the band.
The music sizzles from the opening track “Luftmenschen,” and gets better with the following title track only to be upstaged by the best cut on the album, “Fog.” This trio of tunes is a delight to hear and provide a good portion of the meaty tracks on this album.
All contain expressive solos from Stafford, Bacas on the tenor and Denner on a dynamic and torrid alto journey in “Fog,” Not lost here is the formidable drumming prowess of the leader as he leads the music through out.
Valega shows his stuff on the intricate “Ed Blackwell,” tribute to the late drummer. Other notable mentions are the ballad style “Stacked Seinna,” highlighting Denner’s play on the flute, the fast and furious “Sputnik” providing space for Stafford’s appreciable trumpet and the beautiful finale “Take Time for Love,” featuring the leader on the brushes and Bacas on a lovely slow soprano in a tribute to the late pianist Williams who penned the tune.
An album of unquestioned elegance, spunk and rich melodies, Awake is an engaging collection of music bound to capture your attention, hold your interest and never, never put you to sleep. Setting politics aside, this is one album that gets my vote!
Year: 2007
Label: Consilience Productions
Artist Web: www.myspace.com/drummervv
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