Reviewed: 2020-03-18
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Pianist Mabern recently passed away after 6 decades of performing jazz. This live disc is a great tribute to the man and his music – straight ahead bop with a solid swinging quintet. Half the tracks are Mabern compositions.
If You Like: Les McCann, Hank Jones
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Mr. Johnson (9:44) – piano starts> brief midtempo jam swings uptempo> crescendo end
**2/ The Iron Man (8:00) – piano starts> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*3/ Lover Man (7:34) – piano starts> slow tempo jam> slow fade
***4/ The Lyrical Cole-Man (11:56) – piano starts> fast tempo jam> crescendo end
*5/ Edward Lee (8:53) – piano starts> bouncy uptempo jam> crescendo end
**6/ It’s Magic (5:59) – piano starts> slow tempo jam> quick fade
*7/ The Beehive (7:34) – drums start> fast tempo jam> crescendo end
**8/ Rakin’ and Scrapin’ (10:09) – piano starts> rocking uptempo jam> slows to crescendo end