Tony Bennett
Playin’ with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues
Sony/Columbia, CK 85833
I know he’s been around, so what could a 75-year old Tony Bennett do that he hasn’t done already? Well, let me tell you. He gets Cheryl Crow to sing Good Morning Heartache, and no one is embarrassed! He sings with Diana Krall, K.D. Lang, Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt, and B.B. King. Billy Joel and Bennett on New York State of Mind slip it into a jazzier feel than the original had. Hearing him with Natalie Cole on Stormy Monday is a delight! Her punch and his croon really work together on this old workhorse. You’ll even forget how many times you’ve heard Stormy Monday done when you hear them do it. The band is fine; with Ralph Sharon on piano, Gray Sargent playing guitar, Paul Langosch on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums, everybody has room to shine. This is smooth and subtle the way Bennett always is, but with that spark of blues to keep things in the groove. Tony Bennett makes 75 sound like the perfect age to be a jazz singer.
Pat Metheny Group
Speaking of Now
Warner Bros. 9 48025-2
Remember Pat Metheny with Lyle Mays? Guitars, acoustic pianos, synthesizers, long solos, good grooves? They’re back! With Steve Rodby on bass, Richard Bona on vocals and percussion, and Antonio Sanchez on drums, it sounds like early Pat Metheny; only it’s better, because they are more experienced musicians. Lyle Mays keeps that cushion of keys driving under Metheny’s adventurous forays on guitar and synthesizer, and the bass and drums are always pushing, but never drive you away. The balance is good and that vocal “ahhh” paralleling Metheny’s guitar lines is back in all the right places. It isn’t exactly a flashback, it’s more like a visit with old friends that you haven’t seen in a while and had forgotten how much you missed.
Some Local Treats:
Tony Vacca
Three Point Landing: Chicago, New Orleans, Phoenix
Half Note Records 4207,
www.saxplayer.com
Besides being a teacher at Scottsdale Community College and a sax player around the valley, Tony Vacca is a talented composer and bandleader. This CD shows off his ability on the horn and his composing skills with six original tunes, plus three standards. He has Irvin Mayfield on Trumpet on his Shoe Suede Blues and it has a bluesy Jazz Messengers feel. This release has a lot of variety without being all over the place. There’s some samba, some swing, and some blues all rolled into a unified jazz field that is easy on the first listen and better each time around. Vacca produced and recorded this in New Orleans with Paul Martin playing piano, Roland Guerin on bass, and Jason Marsalis on drums. It’s easy to support your local jazz guy when he puts something this good together for you to listen to.
Phoenix Jazz Quartet
Phoenix Jazz Quartet PJQ
3370 N. Hayden Rd. #123-170, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
If you know the local jazz scene at all, you know these cats. They live and work and teach here, and play music at different venues in the valley and around the state. Armand Boatman, on piano, has played with and for…well, I can’t stand lists, so let’s just say everyone. He’s been around for decades and has experience, dynamics, and fat chords. Dom Moio, on drums, is the best and has also played with everyone. He has his own percussion ensemble and plays blues on some nights and serious jazz on others. He’s the drummer to compare to, as in “he can play like Dom Moio.” Warren “Noshow” Jones, on bass, is everybody’s bass man; he keeps the tempo strong and healthy. Jones is always in the right place, so you may not notice him all the time, but when you listen for the bass you will be impressed at what he’s doing. Bill Moio is Dom’s brother who lives in Las Vegas; he came to town for the recording and for some concerts; he keeps things smooth and subtle, and fits into the band like peanut butter on a jelly sandwich. Whenever I play this CD on K-Jazz, people call to tell me how good it sounds, and to ask where to buy it. Thanks guys, for a job well done, and thanks to Clark Rigsby who recorded it, for making the sound so perfectly acoustic.
